Debate on Al Jazeera

The Debate wasn't about this bikini.

Dear Bernardo
I was watching Al-Jazeera English on Astro, the other day when I saw a debate between a lawyer, a Minister of Law and a Son in law. It was very interesting because it was genuine debate with difficult questions being asked by the moderator. Can we be expecting this level of debate to work its way into our local media?

Rgds,
A Malaysian Dreamer

Dear Dreamer,
I too watched the debate and I must say it was fascinating, but I was very disappointed in Al Jazeera for asking such difficult questions because that kind of journalism makes life very hard for our own media. That's not how things are done in this country and Al-Jazeera whose offices are in KLCC shouldn't rock the boat.

The media's job (at least in Malaysia) is to report what the government says and not to make it look bad by asking questions. They are not trained to argue their position and we shouldn't expose them to that possibility.

Its different in the private sector - all it has to do is run a business efficiently, constantly keep ahead of trends and compete in an increasingly globalised world where China and India are attracting investments. And if they fail, then the only thing that happens is that they go bust and lots of people become unemployed.

Al Jazeera clearly has its own agenda of making a name for itself by proving its journalistic credentials and impartiality. it's not our fault if we don't know how to cope with that.