It is disgusting how politicians from the opposing side try to oppose for the sake opposing.
It is distasteful when they overlooked the greater good in trying to garner attention and political mileage for themselves.
As a citizen journalist, I usually hear both sides of the stories. I gathered all the grouses from the opposing party. I bring them along in my quest for fair citizen journalism.
The other day, I parked myself at the senior citizen appreciation program registration. I asked permission first, of course. I parked myself there for close to three hours.
I observed, listened, watched closely and this is the video that I believe reflects the real people who are receiving the monies.
To me, I would never do anything that could mar the project. Therefore, it is sickening for the opposing political parties to keep using the issue like a piece of old shoe. Have mercy on those who are receiving it and show some grace.
Kenyataan Media oleh Y.B. Ng Wei Aik, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri bagi Kawasan KOMTAR Merangkap Setiausaha Publisiti DAP Negeri Pulau Pinang pada 9 Mac 2010 (Selasa) di Georgetown, Pulau Pinang:
Oh Tong Keong Perlu Pohon Maaf kepada Warga Emas
DAP mendesak Ketua Pemuda Gerakan Negeri Pulau Pinang Oh Tong Keong supaya memohon maaf kepada semua warga emas di Negeri Pulau Pinang kerana gesaan beliau supaya SPRM menyiasat Program Penghargaan Warga Emas yang didakwa berunsurkan rasuah juga membawa maksud bahawa semua warga emas berdaftar sudi menerima rasuah daripada Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang.
Jikalau Kerajaan Negeri memberi wang RM100 setahun kepada setiap warga emas yang berdaftar untuk menghargai sumbangan warga-warga emas terhadap pembangunan masyarakat boleh dilihat sebagai rasuah, maka warga-warga emas juga boleh dikenakan hukuman atas kesalahan menerima rasuah. Jadi, adakah Oh Tong Keong berhasrat supaya 70,000 warga emas yang berdaftar dengan Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang dimasukkan ke dalam penjara?
Kenyataan Oh Tong Keong yang kurang matang telah mendatangkan kebimbangan di kalangan warga-warga emas yang berdaftar serta ahli-ahli keluarga mereka. Mereka bimbang bahawa warga-warga emas yang berdaftar akan disiasat oleh SPRM serta dimasukkan ke dalam penjara dan seterusnya kemungkinan menjadi mendiang Teoh Beng Hock yang kedua.
Kita berasa syukur bahawa sekurang-kurangnya 70,000 warga emas telah berdaftar dengan Kerajaan Negeri di bawah Program Penghargaan Warga Emas. Ini membuktikan bahawa mentaliti rakyat kita tidak serendah macam Oh Tong Keong yang kurang matang sekali.
Selain daripada program ini, Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang juga memberi rebet air sebanyak RM100 kepada keluarga-keluarga yang berpendapatan rendah serta melancarkan Program Pembasmian Miskin Tegar supaya pendapatan semua keluarga sekurang-kurangnya mencapai RM500 setiap bulan. Kita juga memberi bantuan kebajikan, bantuan bencana alam, menyampaikan insentif kepada pelajar-pelajar SPM dan STPM yang cemerlang, menyediakan modal pusingan atau pinjaman kredit mikro kepada penganggur-penganggur ingin menjalankan perniagaan kecil. Mengapa Oh Tong Keong tidak mendakwa kesemua bantuan kewangan yang tersebut di atas juga berunsurkan rasuah?
Kerajaan memberi wang atau bantuan kewangan kepada rakyat merupakan sesuatu yang biasa di mana-mana negara, khasnya negara-negara yang membangun. Adakah salahnya bagi Kerajaan Negeri yang berjimat-cermat untuk mengembalikan wang rakyat kepada rakyat jelata demi menghargai sumbangan warga-warga emas terhadap masyarakat dan negara? Adakah ini boleh dilihat sebagai rasuah jikalau rakyat hanya mendapatkan balik cukai yang telah mereka bayar sebelum ini?
Today, March 8, 2010 is the second year anniversary of Pakatan Rakyat led state government in Penang. Maybe Malaysians would have more reasons to celebrate if Perak is also part of the Pakatan Rakyat domain.
But as we know, it was ’stolen’ right from PR’s nose with the three frogs jumping out of PKR and DAP. And this time of the year, so many things have happened in Penang as well.
Maybe no one knows but I had gone out of my way just before Chinese New Year to do more citizen journalism videos than what I had wanted. I felt it is my duty as a Penangite to put in the extra hours and trips to cover the Pakatan Rakyat’s event, press conference and interviews because rumours were flying around that Penang will go the same way as Perak.
Generally, the lay people in Penang do not really care much if the state government is Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional. They just want a peaceful day to day life, making a living in the vibrant island like Penang.
Sadly, it is just the few from the higher ups who tried to throw a spanner in the works. They want to see chaos reign so that they have a chance to get their foothold again. They went around instigating the less informed Penangites. Some media are not helping at all. They published lies.
As a citizen journalist, I have seen how facts get twisted in the next day papers. So, I took it upon myself to do my tiny bit to make sure that the words from the state leaders’ mouths are not twisted.
Like other regular folks in Penang, I am sick of the previous government. So, I will allow and help the new one to try their best to make changes and hopefully, a brighter future for us.
The above video was shot three months ago but basically, the people have expressed what some of us feel.
I have forgotten I even have this video. Wow…that is two years ago.
I was drawn into the 12th General Election because my hubby’s good friend is a DAP’s member. Since our home was just next to one of the voting centre, hubby went to help out as they were short of volunteers.
On that night, when DAP won all the seats in Penang, we also rejoiced along with hubby’s friend. He asked us to join him at Red Rock Hotel where the announcement was supposed to be made.
I was one curious blogger but a very meek photographer. So, I used one of my point & shoot camera and tried to capture the video. It sucks, of course. I was sitting way at the back and got intimidated by the amount cameras and the large numbers of photographers. I dare not even go nearer to capture the video.
Still, it is nice to look back how far I have come. Now, I am no longer meek, I produce better quality video and hey, the CM knows me!
This is another video I shot two or three days before the 12th GE. CM Lim came to my Taman to give a ceramah. Note that I don’t even know how to rotate a video back then. Sigh…it is nice to go down memory lane of how I have been doing my own way of citizen journalism way back in 2008.
I found this very thought provoking words on citizen journalism. We were taught investigative journalism during our advance course on citizen journalism. I also bought a book written by a senior journalist who was from The Star.
The more I think about it, the investigative citizen journalists of the 21st century are the activists of the 20th. They care enough about a particular topic to dig into it with enough effort and fervor to uncover new truths.
The words “investigative citizen journalists of the 21st century are the activists of the 20th”
I see my role as something big. I see the skills I have as something very powerful. Yet, why didn’t I use them to propel further?
Here are the reasons why:
1) This is Malaysia
In Malaysia, we can get into trouble just because we stepped on the wrong toes. We have seen instances of juvenile pranks ended up in court, sometimes for huge cases like insulting so&so. It is stupid. But that is Malaysia. So, I wouldn’t stick my head out and invite trouble. After reading so many conspiracies (or rather real news that hit the mainstream media), I don’t want to be the tiny pawns. No one is going to build a statue for me like Joan of Arc.
2) There is no backhill
In Chinese, backhill means the hidden, influential, sinister power that will save our arses if we get into trouble. One can flaunt one’s power around even if one is a mere nobody if that person knows that someone up there will settle everything for her/him. I don’t like the idea of currying favours with the power up there. Nah ah, I like playing by my rules and saving my own arse.
3) Reality, bro!
Activists, greenies, tree huggers, NGOs and those hippie looking guys and gals are idealistic folks. One of them was telling us citizen journalists how we can investigate certain things, dig into certain companies, kick up a huge fuss and create big news. Why should we, huh? I don’t want to end up with lawsuits from corporate companies or cause civil servants to lose their jobs. If the tree hugger is so sure of the issue, why don’t he go and pursue it? Why suggest such risky stuffs for newbies like us?
4) My name is not Erin Brockovich
So far, no one come to piss me enough to be one. So, tralalala, why bother?
5) Citizen journalism is not hot, hot, hot in Malaysia yet
Frankly, there is only a handful of us. Each of us have our own agenda. Some are pro certain political parties, some are pro certain NGOs, some like me are basically individuals having too much time and brain juice. We have not create enough impact to make people piss in their pants yet. But we are creating tiny ripples now.
So, if you ask me – Will I put my head out to pursue an issue? I can safely tell you that I have to consider point 1 to 5 before I answer.
I will only do it, IF:
1) I am sure the issue is not sensitive;
2) I have directive;
3) It won’t cause hardship to anyone or anything;
4) It personally affects me enough;
5) I will be treated seriously.
In another nine hours, I am going to cover yet another Kampung Buah Pala saga. Strangely, this video pops up a while ago while I was setting a new widget.
I take that as a divine intervention to remind me of my main driving force. The reasons why I brave the muddy field full of cow dung, the hot, burning sun that gave me a dark complexion until today, the smell of cow dung stuck to my jeans and the verbal abuses hurl by stupid people against me.
The people of Kampung Buah Pala. I may not like some of them. I may find a few of their sons too stubborn to reason with. Some have sons who is so fickled. Some are so ignorant I just want to scream at them to ‘wake up already’.
But ultimately, we have a big group of old folks who are really attached to their kampung. That attachment is so deeply ingrained in them, they just won’t accept anything else but the soil they had stepped on for decades.
They may not get a house like the other 24 house owners. I had said my piece. I think I was out of my mind that day to dare to put forward my reasonings to the person whom I expect can make a difference.
So, maybe it is closure to some. But I know it is like a wound festering and one day, the nasty pus will burst. Hopefully, it doesn’t. But if it did, at least I can look back and said, “I told you so.”
Oh ya, another note to self. Out of them, one family is Catholics. And my Catholic leader said he doesn’t want to be involved when out of desperation I phoned him to help the old man who was so distressed. That remark had been my driving force. If I cannot even rely on a religious leader to help a distressed old man, who else can I count on?
The other lesson I learned is the world is full of arrogant rats who call themselves politikus.
Initially, I wasn’t sure how to tackle this issue. It started with the visit of the Chief Minister and then, handing over cheques from several parties to the bereaved parent. I find that issue not up my valley. I am not there to promote who is more generous.
Then, it followed with a sit down media briefing. That too I find too ‘dry’. We have seen, heard, read and know about dengue. Dengue kills. We know that but we have never really come face to face with those who suffered.
Finally, when I have packed my camera and was about to get out of the room, some veteran reporters approached the bereaved father and asked him a string of questions. I said veteran because only they can asked the poor man till he was on the verge of tears.
Newbies like me will have too much consideration and compassion and will choose to leave the poor man alone. But veteran reporters are seasoned to sadness. They asked question after question. So, I took out my video again and just shoved it to the father’s face because he was rather soft spoken and I can’t hear him.
I guess I have gotten a gist of the human side of the sufferings due to dengue. He lost two daughters. He is a very faithful man to Allah and it is something that we should admire. His faith is very humbling. Inspite of his sadness, he reminded other parents to be extra cautious if their children are ill.
We went to his house to get a photo of his daughters. We met his wife. She asked not to be filmed or have any photograph taken. And that’s the video I produced after thinking hard over it.
I think we do not need any more dry and cold reporting. We need to inject some emotions into our videos. And I hope parents who had watched it will be extra alert to their children’s health.
We CJs started small. We merely wait for our sifu Maran to give us indication where to go and what to film.
But like all things, it takes initiative on our side to spread our reach. We cannot rely on people to feed us the things to do. We have to go out and search for causes or newsworthy news to shoot.
I mean, if you have taken a 8 days, 8 hours course on video filming, journalism ethics and etc, surely you want to use those skills to produce something, don’t you? Otherwise, why don’t you spend those time sleeping at home, no?
Malaysiakini has printed name cards for us. They also give us CJs a tag. Some of us who are accepted as fellows have a different tag. But a tag is still a tag. Long before they gave us the tag, I made my own. I managed to enter many places using my homemade tag. Of course, you can get kick out if you do that. But usually, I have already made the appointment with the person so it is just a card to satisfy the guards.
So, how do we find the news?
1) Namecard
I left my namecard with people. Usually, they are the communication manager, PR manager, politicians, their assistants, activists and etc. I urge them to keep me inform if they have something they need to publicise. I explained to them that I am focus on religious tolerance, environment and human rights so that they don’t bother me with business matters or such.
2) Newspapers
From the newspapers, we can find many upcoming events, especially from charitable organisations. If those are issues that I am passionate with, I will call up the organiser to get an invitation or arrange an interview.
3) Ball carrying
Hahaha, this may sound so wrong. But politicians have the most news. Be nice to them. Help them to promote their programmes and give them some publicity for works they have done. They will usually be very happy to feed you with more news.
4) Look around
Citizen journalists who are really keen in helping the community can easily look out for news. They are things that happen around us. Injustices, dirty places or neglected individuals all need our help.
5) Time will bring in the fishes
As we go along, more people will get to know us. We have now created quite a name for ourselves. The other day, one CJ from KL, Vijay told me over a phone conversation that when he mentioned my name to some politicians in KL, they immediately recognise it. We CJs have quite a network now. We can always feed each other with issues that CJs in other states can help to cover.
Having said that, there are so many opportunities that most CJs did not just jump in and grab. It is not about who makes the most videos but how passionate we are in helping the people around us. It could just be one single person. But then, it means the whole world to them already so it is worth doing, no matter what.
I spent four hours following a group of about 300 workers, mostly women, single mothers and elderly employees from the court to the state gov. building. One can see it as a time-wasting effort. I see it as my contribution to the society.
What used to be a landmark of Penang has turned into a stinky, ugly, messy stretch of mud. Gurney Drive is a tourist spot, a family favourite for evening walks, lovers haunt, senior citizens daily morning jog and a place to hang out with friends.
No thanks to the previous Barisan Nasional government, development was rampant and the sea and beach disappeared. What is left now is a row of high rise condos, shopping malls and hotels facing one of the stinkiest place in Penang.
The above video was made around June 18, 2009. Subsequently, CM Lim Guan Eng launched the One million apologies to Mother Earth on Saturday, 9 August 2009. The communities in Penang have come together to make one million EM Mud Balls to be thrown into rivers and the mud in Gurney Drive. These EM Mud Balls are supposed to help the environment.
CJ Chan Lilian wanted to find out why the sea off Gurney Drive has now been replaced by an ugly stretch of mud. The previous Barisan Nasional state government claimed it was due to global warming (as reported in the NST and quoted by Teng Chang Yeow).
YB Phee who is the Exco in charge of the environment smirked that if indeed it is due to global warming, then, the sea surrounding the Penang island will have mud as well. He said it was due to the reclamation in Tanjong Tokong where they (the previous Govt.) had carried sea bed sand mining, taking the sand for development and then, throw the slush and mud back.
Recently, it was reported that the Ministry of Tourism has funded a beautification project that cost RM500,000. CJ Lilian approached MPPP to find out more details on the landscaping upgrading.
The contract covers covers new planterbox, chairs, underground cabelling, new lamp post, concrete imprint, central divider, 6 unit blinker lights for OKU with ramps and replacement of old tiles.
According to MPPP Planning and Development Department acting director Khoo Boo Soon, the contract was awarded on 26 october 2009 till 25 january 2010. However, MPPP granted the contractor extension of time because of 6 days stop work during festive season.
Although a lot of money had been spent on the beautification project, she noted that the dirty habits of littering and usage of plastic bags and Styrofoam have marred the effort of making Gurney Drive attractive to tourists.
According to IR Khoo , MPPP outsource the sea cleaning to contractor. He said that sea cleaning is not an easy task as tide will bring every “rubbish” in from as far as Kedah and Butterworth. As Gurney Drive is a tourist area MPPP Urban Services Dept. has people on the ground to do monitoring.
Ir Khoo also informed CJ Lilian that there are CCTV installed along Gurney Drive. Hopefully, these will provide crime prevention and also deter people from littering the place.
CJ Lilian also noted that the new benches made of wood and metal frames are not much more attractive than the previous one made of tiles.
To make Gurney Drive beautiful again, everyone has to put in their efforts including the public. The hotels, restaurants and shopping malls too could play their part in stepping up their corporate social responsibilities to keep this stretch of road and sea clean. After all, their businesses rely on the beauty of the place.
I received a notification from the CM’s office that he is visiting the Thaipusam stalls. So, I went along with all the media members. Seriously, I am not keen to follow a bunch of politicians through the Thaipusam road on a very, bright, sunny, hot and glaring late afternoon.
But, I know I will have better access to the people if I go in an official entourage. One doesn’t get these sort of privileges unless you are on the media members mailing list. On the list are editors of all the top gun mainstream media.
So, what does a CJ do in this instance? I cannot abuse the privilege of being part of the media members entourage without giving some credit to the politicians who invited me. Yet, I am not excited about being their public promotion mouthpiece.
I have to find the right balance. I want to make a video with a message. I want that video to give different group of people something worth watching.
So, I added some elements of religious tolerance and racial intergration to it. The CM gets his few seconds of ’see what a caring leader he is’. The Human Rights Party get their say. There is an element of how Chinese and Indians can be together as one in a religious event. Then, I added some inspiring scenes of Chinese kavadi bearers. Not to forget, a short message from ex-Xaverian (who is also an MIC member) on their refreshment stall. Then, I also take advantage of the storm brewing in PKR by highlighting their poster and CM whispering to one of the Adun.
Of course, I didn’t forget that the whole elements of Thaipusam is Lord Murugan. So, Lord Murugan also get his five seconds of fame being featured with his devotees.
The above seven minutes video actually took me four long hours to shoot. I enjoyed the long walk, immersing myself into the beauty of faith of the Hindus plus the colour, drum beats and human interaction. I only noticed how tired my legs and back were when I got into my car to drive home.
This is another one of the video that I enjoyed editing. There are lots of rough edges but I wanted to get it online fast so quality takes less priority.
