Author: Hafiz Noor Shams

Between Malaysia and UMNO, I do not believe those influential in the party care for Malaysia more than UMNO. I have recently alluded to that idea but it was done in jest, perhaps unwittingly referring to the upcoming rally demanding for fairer electoral process. After observing development in the past few days, the jest is increasingly becoming a legitimate stance. As Malaysia goes to the International Court of Justice to settle a dispute with Singapore regarding Batu Puteh, UMNO is holding its general assembly in Kuala Lumpur. All mainstream media are reporting on the assembly heavily while there is scant mention — in some media not at all — of the development of the hearing at The Hague.

This is most telling is how Utusan Malaysia treats the two events today and yesterday, which is full of UMNO related news. For these two days, reporting on the dispute should be heaviest as Singapore presents its case in the Court. Yet, the printed media, especially Utusan Malaysia, are dedicating most of its pages to the UMNO assembly, including its front pages. Batu Puteh on the other hand receives a mere back page treatment for today. For yesterday, none at all but the assembly continues to dominate the pages of Utusan Malaysia.

The same case is applicable for Bernama, The Star and the New Straits Times though the stress on UMNO is noticeably less. But the point, the hearing on Batu Puteh receives only passing mention unlike the UMNO assembly which involved deep analysis and spin that pain this assembly remarkably in contrast to those in the recent past, as late as last year, which were jingoistic and filled with deep communal sentiments, to put it politely.

The same trend is observable on television and radio. I dare say, half of the air time is dedicated to the assembly. I am unsure if the same case is observable in media of languages other than Malay and English.

Therefore, the case suffers from limited coverage and due to that, I am forced to rely on Wikipedia, Singaporean media which understandably biased to the Singaporean side and international media.

But perhaps, this lack of reporting from Malaysian sources is due to the fact that this round of hearing is reserved for Singapore. Malaysia will only present its case next week. Still, surely, whatever Singapore, or Malaysia, brings forth as points greatly affects the course of the case. Or, maybe, it is just a little rock in the middle of the sea. Or maybe, Malaysian sovereignty is of little importance.

There is no need to remind everybody that UMNO controls the media in this country, directly or by proxy. Meanwhile, it is clear that those in the media place UMNO higher than the sovereignty of Malaysia in its list. You are welcome to make a conclusion following the two premises.

Such is the sad state of our country.