My Way

LAST week, I was torn between two worlds of different contrasting emotions, affected by the way politicians from both sides of the fence responded to the Automated Enforcement System (AES) issue and how the media handled the erotic act on YouTube of blogger Alvin Tan Jye Yee and his partner Vivian Lee.

On the AES issue in this column last Sunday, I am blessed to have had a way to “state my case of which I am certain, and to travel each and every highway,” as Frank Sinatra sang in his hit song -- My Way.

But I am still nagged by how some media handled the issue of the porn blog couple.

If we believe that the couple is sick for “leveraging on sharing their sex life for more lasting fame” and that there is perhaps a desire that got carried away for “wanting Alvin and Vivian to become a household name, a pair known for being a sexually open duo,” then the media have given them a big lift in achieving their weird dreams!

Look at how extensive, intensive, exclusive and inclusive media coverage on the couple’s self-exposed sexual behaviour had been over just one week -- and also at how the media have fared in their reporting about the incident.

In a mainstream English newspaper, four articles, including an opinion piece, were given prominence on a Sunday. The day before (Saturday), seven stories were published, and on Friday, a total of six stories – not counting the breaking-news stories between Oct 16 and 18.

A mainstream Chinese newspaper gave equal if not more coverage -- at least 10, with one day the front page lead story and a special interview splashed over a page and four other commentaries running from Oct 17-21.

A national daily, in a report, proudly declared its three online stories generated tremendous reader-interest -- with 194,000 hits on the first two days of the breaking news.

In the same report, the daily also revealed its breaking-news story on the couple, published on Wednesday, topped the list of the most read stories with 86,675 page views on the Google Analytics Survey Service.

There were even interviews by radio stations owned by a media group but thanks to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for putting a stop to the circus!

These are more than an average reader “can chew” just as Frank Sinatra crooned: Yes, there were times, I’m sure, you knew when I bit off more than I could chew. But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all and I stood tall and did it My Way.

One veteran journalist – in an opinion piece – while saying the morality seems to be the last thing on the mind of the porn bloggers and others in the new generation also convey their voices that those who called for them to be punished are hypocrites and that they would probably have read every line of every article about them.

Reading between the lines, there was indication that this veteran journalist was trying to justify the generous space given to the bloggers by the media because there is a demand.

By putting words in the mouth of what he called the new generation, he was actually hinting that those slamming the media for giving extensive publicity to Tan and Lee’s tryst were being hypocritical – they could have been angry but still, they read every line of every article.

It was a slap on the face for moralists who questioned the media’s wide coverage of the infamous couple.

But have we all really read every line as accused? I was chatting with a young journalist who questioned the media’s justification for promoting the porn bloggers.

She asked: “Is there no other bigger issue to write about? There are many other Malaysian porn posers in the Internet but why did they single out these two bloggers? Is there any news value to it?”

In the next breath, this journalist who also belongs to the new generation noted: “We have this forum on the National Education Blueprint where hundreds of educators were given only one hour to express their opinions. How can we justify being allowed only that short span of time to articulate on such an important national issue when the media could give the bloggers their shouts to justify their acts?”

I could sense how disappointed she was with the journalistic profession as we rode in her car, trying to beat the heavy rain to keep an interview appointment.

But soon enough, as we talked to a disability equality trainer, the young journalist’s eyes started to shine as bright as the stars, her face radiant like the warm sunshine which appeared after the rain outside the café where we were seated.

I am happy this young journalist, who just won two big prizes at the Kenyalang Shell Press Award the night before, has not given up on journalism.

Yes, over the week, as Frank Sinatra expressed so explicitly in his own special way -- I have loved, I have laughed and cried, I have had my fill, my share of losing, and now as tears subside -- there is, indeed, still hope … more hope.

On a starry night, an email popped up on my computer screen in which a senior journalist in the UK -- my consultant, trainer, teacher and friend – wrote: “I just sent to the printer yesterday the book for which you saw the cover (which I’m delighted you like). It’s my professional autobiography – mainly, not a personal autobiography but a professional one. Sarawak and Sabah feature quite prominently – in the eighties and recently. I’ll send you a complimentary copy of Journalism My Way.”

This wise teacher had said in an earlier book: The world is full of things that people don’t know and don’t need to know. To be news, information must impact on them at some level – in the wallet or purse, as curious human beings or as thoughtful citizens of the country and the world.

Thoughtful citizens with intellectual curiosity certainly do not need to know the five Ws  (why, when, what, where and who) and the one H (How) about the erotic bloggers and their sex life. 

Yes, Journalism My Way is on the way. More importantly, there’s hope His Way.

GRANNY’S WISDOM: When a disappointing thing happens, don’t let that become our focus, there’s still so much to be grateful for.

Caught in the act

THE latest addition to the acronyms in the country is AES -- Automated Enforcement System.

It has stayed at the top of the ‘hot issues’ chart among politicians and the public for the past two weeks or so.

It’s hot. It’s record-breaking! Within eight days of operation, 14 units of AES along the highways in the peninsula have recorded a whooping 63,558 traffic offences.

The AES is high-tech automatic camera system installed at identified accident- prone locations for the sole purpose of reducing accidents and increasing the effectiveness of enforcement.

I first heard of this “camera” catching traffic offenders in the act some years ago from a friend who came back from America for a holiday.

We were on the road one day when our car was nearly hit by a vehicle jumping the red light.

While relating to me the system in the US, she also casually mentioned that the camera was breaking up families.

How on earth can traffic offence summonses contribute to the breakup of relationships?

As I was told, the camera, fixed near a traffic light, not only caught traffic offenders in the act of jumping the red light but also those who might have travelling companions other than their spouses. This had inevitably led to tension in the house.

But the authorities are not unplugging the system with its proven statistics of reducing road traffic accidents just because it has caused some domestic problems. Neither are the authorities igno-ring public outcry over the lack of efforts in arresting the worrying rise of road accidents (and deaths) in the country.

My friend said some places had done away with sending photographs together with the summonses but offenders could view them at the road transport offices if they so wished.

I thought that was brilliant.

From America to Malaysia – it is not about unfaithful spouses being “caught in the act” or at least, we have not read about someone raising the possible consequences of AES causing domestic tension.

The above notwithstanding, certain quarters have branded AES as “highway robbery.”

A certain mathematician was quick to do a mental calculation, saying with 63,558 offences in eight days, each camera actually recorded one offence in every two and half minutes!

At this rate, more than 170 million offences would be recorded each year after all the 831 cameras have been in-stalled.

This wise mathematician noted: “By 2020, the government’s main source of income will probably come from traffic summonses!

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was quick to weigh in on the issue, describing the system, in his usual boisterous manner, as “milking the rakyat for maximum profits” with a collection of RM51 billion annually based on RM300 for each summons.

Milking the rakyat? Not exactly – and  allow me to correct YAB LGE. It’s “milking” traffic offenders only. If you do not speed, jump the red light, you won’t be “milked.”  Plain and simple.

According to the Road Transport Department (RTD), nine per cent of our motorists are habitual traffic offenders. Let’s make no apology for capturing their acts on AES cameras and “milking” them by all means.

Having said that, LGE admittedly had a good point in questioning the existence of concessionaires, claiming that they would get RM15 for each of the first five million summonses issued on the first tier, 50 per cent of the balance of the revenue collected for the next RM540 million on second tier and 7.5 per cent of the revenue after that.

Now, the ball is in the RTD’s court to answer LGE’s question: “If we did something wrong, you summon us, no problem. But why when issuing summonses, certain individuals are making profits …”

But let’s not compromise public safety because of a pre-conceived notion over accountability of the money received from the traffic summonses. Neither should we allow it to further delay implementation of the system.

It is quite clear that the main aim of the system is to ensure drivers adhere to traffic rules and regulations for the sake of their own safety as well as that of other road users. It’s not about punishment or making profit.

Sarawak records 1.3 deaths on roads daily -- 65 percent due to human factor, as revealed by Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin recently.

He added that a study revealed Malaysian drivers are one of the most indisciplined.

The nation’s record is an average of 19 deaths due to road accidents.

With such an alarming record in mind, Mohamed Idris of the Consumer Asso-ciation of Penang (CAP) has wisely made this call: “AES should be enforced without further delay. Stop all these flip-flops in the name of saving lives. Stop dithering and continue with the implementation before we lose more lives.”

Enforcement of the system has been postponed three times already and Idris insisted there was “no justification to delay a  fourth time.”

If Idris is right, then what have the rakyat to say to the following  statement by Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Gading): “The system has been postponed three times prior to this but we see it as more of a burden to the people after it is finally implemented. If possible, we hope the government can nullify the 60,000 traffic offenders identified through the system.

In the name of saving lives, pray there is no second Aziz who, for all we know, could also suggest a discount for summonses in the days ahead.

I love this quote from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Everything will be all right in the end, and if it is not all right, it is not the end.

NO COMPROMISE: In the next 18 months, AES will be installed at 831 locations throughout the nation to catch errant motorists in the act of committing traffic offences.

Everyone's a little racist

IT must have been a blue Sunday for Amy Cheong of Singapore when she posted expletive-laden comments on her facebook about Malay weddings taking place at the foot of the public housing block.

Probably annoyed by the noise, she wrote:

“How many (expletive) days do malay weddings at void decks go for? Pay for a real wedding u (expletive), maybe then

the divorce rate wont be so high! How can society allow ppl to get married for 50 bucks?”

She thought that was her little space and she was entitled to her freedom as she retorted in later comments that whoever did not like what they read could just buzz off her facebook wall.

But this was not so. Her hateful and

disrespectful posts immediately went viral, triggering an uproar from both the Malay and non-Malay communities. 

This was followed by furious retorts and petitions to her employer – National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) – which she highlighted in her profile in facebook as assistant director for membership and partnership and alliance to sack her.

NTUC dismissed the 37-year-old within just a short span of 24 hours affirming its belief in “inclusiveness and multiracialism” with a statement from its secretary-general saying, “NTUC takes a serious view on racial harmony in Singapore. We will not accept and have zero tolerance toward any words used or actions taken by our staff that are racially offensive.”.

According to media reports, Amy had fled to Perth where she received her university education in view of the threats she had received.

The dust is settling down but is this an “isolated case,” as assured by Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong when condemning Amy Cheong’s racist remarks?

The Straits Times Singapore was quick to compile a list of punishments meted out in other similar cases over the years in an article on the possible outcomes to Amy Cheong.

These include a 17-year-old student being convicted under the Sedition Act and put on probation for two years and ordered to do 180 hours of community service with for posting racist remarks in his blog.

Two bloggers were jailed for one month and a “nominal” jail term of one year and fined the maximum of S$5,000 also under the Sedition Act for posting vulgar remarks aimed at a certain race.

Two other cases of jail term being imposed were reported in 2009 and 2010.

Whether in Malaysia or Singapore or anywhere in the world, exploring or talking about racism is very much a taboo.

The lyrics of a song from hit musical Avenue Q -- everyone’s a little bit racist -- aptly point out that by not talking about the subject does not mean racism does not exist.

I quote:  Everyone’s a little bit racist it’s true. But everyone is just about as racist as you! If we all could just admit that we are racist a little bit, and everyone stopped being so PC, maybe we could live in Harmony!

Indeed, if we suppress our sentiments, it just needs a spark for them to implode and make matters ugly.

Amy Cheong had a good point when she mentioned the noise from the void deck of the housing block which actually could be weddings or even a funeral, but the fact is that she took a racial perspective of the issue.

It would be a totally different story if she had posted constructively -- whether the open spaces of the housing blocks could be used for weddings or funerals -- and suggested to the people’s representatives to build more community halls for such functions.

Yes, we are all a little racist whether Malays, Chinese, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Indians and others.

Interestingly, researchers from Georgia Tech’s School of Psychology in the US used a word-association test and discovered most people have built-in prejudices.

Now this is important – the reports claims racism is not necessarily something we believe in but something that seeps into the subconscious from modern-day culture.

The team examined a collection of literary works, songs, newspapers and magazines that are good representation of American culture.

They found that racist pairings of words such as black/murder, women/weak, white/greedy and old/wise were fairly common in these literatures.

In other words, these literatures seem to be drip-feeding people with prejudices.

The study suggests that what is more important is our behaviour rather than our gut reaction.

Just as I concluded this article, I made a remark of which -- as a little bird told me -- my colleagues thought I was being racist.

All I said was I can use this made-in-India umbrella that belongs to Venu (Venu is my Indian colleague).

Yes, it was Venu who categorically and proudly stated his umbrella was made in India when he lent it to me the previous night. But when I said it, it is racist.

How dangerous! A little bird may be able to tell six people but when you post that on the social media, 6,000 people will know.

What can you post on your facebook and what can you tweet then?

Play by the rule -- Does it edify? Does it benefit? Does it build up? -- or by the instruction -- If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything.

Ethically and morally, the one valuable lesson to draw from Amy Cheong’s mindless gaffe is perhaps the need to ensure we have the good sense to be considerate and

respectful in both thoughts and actions as

we make choices and decisions everyday, whether online or offline.

COLOUR-BLIND: Only children are “colour blind.” The world will be a much better place if we all have a little child in us.