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Tag: news

  • Cherian George: Mainstream Media Cannot Be Trusted With Delivering National News

    Cherian George: Mainstream Media Cannot Be Trusted With Delivering National News

    Just wasted an hour of my life watching CNA’s Primetime Asia for news of #HouseOfLee.

    Not a word. Granted this is an outward-focused programme. Still, they found time for a Singapore-angled segments about a healthcare-related survey and training dogs. The crawler had a few Singapore items, leading with “SCIENCE PARK ONE VISITORS CAN RENT E-SCOOTERS”. But nothing about the story of the year.

    This is reminiscent of the national media’s tongue-tied reaction to Lee Hsien Loong’s health scare during last year’s National Day Rally speech.

    This won’t do. If we can’t count on our national media during periods of controversy and confusion, what are they there for? Our mainstream editors go through years of socialisation to understand where the OB markers are. In spite of that, if they are not trusted (or don’t trust themselves) to exercise initiative and provide timely news and analysis at a time like this, what’s the point?

    We have heard a lot of warnings about fake news lately. The government and mainstream media should realise that if it doesn’t care to allow real news to circulate, their complaints about fake news will ring hollow.

     

    Source: Cherian George

  • Ismail Kassim: Stop Spread Of Fake News Belittling Or Inciting Hatred Towards Islam

    Ismail Kassim: Stop Spread Of Fake News Belittling Or Inciting Hatred Towards Islam

    I am relieved the case of the Imam’s controversial remarks has been settled with the minimum pain to all involved, but it does leave a bad taste in the mouth that will linger on.

    There are still a number of unanswered questions such as the agenda of the whistle-blower and his accomplice. His diatribes – past and present – against the Malay Muslims and the religious authority – have shown that his motives are less than pristine.

    What the Imam said was beyond any doubt wrong and he should not have uttered it, not in Singapore, and not under the present ‘’fear of terrorists’’ climate, here and elsewhere.

    But I don’t think he meant to incite violence against Jews or Christians member. It probably stems from an indulgence in religious rhetoric that has become habitual among some unenlightened preachers.

    My regret is that the whole episode could have been avoided by a more pro-active and constructive approach on the part of the powers-to-be.

    Like the Bible and the Torah and other holy texts from the Abrahamic faith, the Quran too has passages that to some extent incite the faithful to violence against unbelievers, hypocrites, homosexuals, gays and so on.

    While there were reasons for such verses at the time of the revelation, they have lost their meaning in the present world, and should not be uttered by anyone in public, least of all by an Imam in a mosque.

    I do hope that there will be the appropriate follow-up measures.

    I also like to take this opportunity to remind all that there are fake news on Islam and Muslims that are circulated at regular intervals with immunity on social media.

    And what’s most unfortunate is that these people know that these stories have been made up to incite hatred against Muslims and belittle Islam, and yet they have no compulsion in spreading such news.

    They too deserve to get a warning.

     

    Source: Ismail Kassim