Why social justice seldom successfully achieved by Malaysian media? This is because by using Malaysia as a case study, media practitioners tend to sensational news and profit-oriented basis. For instance, in races and political bias case of the Bumiputera community has had an affirmative action policy since 1971 to elevate their status economically. This has been taken to a national priority, ironically for social justice objectives, growing the wealth of a community that was before underprivileged. Unfortunately it has come as a cost to other minority communities, including the Indians and Chinese, since policies have worked to their disadvantages. Here, how “national priority” is defined is becoming trickier, since the priority of one party (BN) is not the same as another (PKR); neither is the priority of one ethnicity necessarily the same as the other ethnic groups. In this country, race is a political tool used to benefit certain portions of society, and as a result not all have equal access to economic advancement, even amongst the Malay community. The trick is being able to balance the majority interests whilst at the same time upholding human rights principles.
Besides, the media’s view of social justice regarding the religious also can be sensation and on profit making basis. Which there is a case in our country that public argue about religion-debate made by Bar Council. Although, media is the one who should play their part in promote unity by encouraging inter-religious dialogue and a better understanding of cultural heritage and traditions. They must create acceptance and understanding among various ethnic groups and celebrate differences while being guided at all times by the principles of justice, freedom and solidarity but sometimes it has been abused.
No society can have genuine peace and stability without social justice. Justice must be a dominant principle when the media focus on various issues, and especially the socio-economic gap and inequities that continue to mark our society.
4.2 Public’s View of Social Justice
Public concern with the truthfulness of social justice compare with the media’s view towards it. Basically, public concerns with the ways in which all the information gets transmitted can affect the messages being sent. Public’s curiosity to know how the media shapes their personal experiences and how newspaper, television, and film coverage have positively and negatively impacted different groups of people in community. Public also want to know how to interpret media in order to determine the validity, objectivity, or bias of the information presented, enabling them to make informed decisions based on critical analysis regarding the social justice that media published. Moreover, our community or public generally know that all of us need to do something about media in Malaysia to ensure that the public could get the fact information instead of fake story and know the tools to become well-informed citizens. In addition, public realize that they also should understand how and why the role of the media in Malaysia especially has changed over time.
5.0 Similarity of Media Practitioners and Public View of Social Justice
There are similarities of media practitioners and public view of social justice in terms of education, economics, housing, environment and other social contexts. Social justice and human rights share with the public whose their interests are denied by unfair systems in those areas mentioned above.
James Banks (1994) said that by encouraging the press to follow the principle “that all human beings are entitled to expect decent standards of behavior concerning freedom and justice from worldly powers or nations, and that deliberate or inadvertent violations of these standards need to be testified and fought against courageously” (pp. 11-12, quoted by William Ayers, p. 86).
Another thing that has similarity between media practitioners and public view of social justice is public interests. But the question is, is there a public that is interested in the public interest? I think that the gap between rich and poor; those with unearned privilege and those who have been denied privilege based on their skin color, national origin, home language, gender, religion, disability, social class, immigrant status, age, or the other diversity that have been used to deny the social justice.
6.0 Examples on How Social Justice Being Practiced by Malaysian Media
13th September 2008
ISA Detentions Undemocratic
The All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) condemns the government’s use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) on blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
These actions are gross violations of citizen’s rights to trial and due process of the law, and freedoms of expression and information enshrined under our constitution.
Similar to the Operasi Lalang in 1987, it appears that the government has yet again resorted to undemocratic laws such as the ISA in order to persecute the innocent under the guise of “stabilizing the country’s political situation”. That such means can be deployed after 51 years of independence speaks volumes about the state of our democratic institutions.
Furthermore, these unjust scare tactics exacerbates the situation of heightened tensions and uncertainty. Meanwhile, the deeper issues plaguing the nation are left unresolved.
We urge for reason to prevail, and call for the government to abide by the due process of the law and free the detainees.
Haslinah Ya’cob
Vice President
The All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Media should explore objectivity as a means of avoiding bias by using methods that embrace the accurate representation of those who are denied access to social justice. Commonly, media in Malaysia put a target on community interests in the form of ethnicity which this one have been used as a justification tool in their way of delivering the message of social justice.
Over the years Malaysian have been denied the basic right of press gets their freedom. The media have been prevent from speaking and frightened from playing the role of responsible source of credible information and differing opinions.
Under such rigid control, the media tend to reflect and promote the agenda of the political elite and the rich while the concerns of independent civil society, the poor and marginal groups are sideline.
Such manipulation of the media and practice of supporter reporting must stop. The media can have no credibility when they fail to uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics and professionalism.
If we are to build a genuinely democratic society, the media must not only be responsive to public needs, but must also be free to perform its functions. So as long the freedom of the media is bind, the right of Malaysian citizens to free expression is strictly violated.
In addition, the control on media has periodically led to major government crackdowns. This happened in 1961, when Utusan Melayu was taken over; it happened again in 1987, when the authorities suspended the licences of The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan. The other crackdown took place soon after the 1999 general election, when the Home Ministry slashed the frequency of Harakah, and banned Eksklusif, Detik and Wasilah.
Besides, those in power have way to obvious media abuse. During election campaigns, the rule coalition manipulates and monopolizes the media by harping on political and economic instability, by stoking ethnic fears, make unfairly discrediting the opposition, and by distorting their views. At other times, the media have treat in misrepresentation, baseless speculation, untruths and character assassination.
References
Altschull, J. B. (1995). Agents of Power: The Media and Public Policy. New York, Longman.
Barry, B. (1989). Theories of Justice. Hawester-Wheatsheaf, California.
Mill, S. J. (1949). The English Utilitarians. Oxford
Miller, D. (1976). Social Justice. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Mohd Safar Hasim (2004). Media Globalisation: Towards Greater Freedom or Responsibility. Malaysia.
Shannon, P. (2008). Which Public?Whose Interests?Two Points of View. New York, Education Research in the Public Interest: Social Justice, Action, and Policy.
Ryan, A. (1993). Justice, Oxford University Press, United States.
Sayyid Qutb (2000). Social Justice in Islam. Islamic Book Trust, Kuala Lumpur.
Tony Pua (2008). As crude oil price hits record US$100 per barrel, Government must act to reduce inflation, meet economic challenges and fulfil its social responsibilities. Malaysia.
Tricia Yeoh (2008). Do Human Rights and Social Justice Objectives Conflict with Other National Priorities?. Malaysia, Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR)
