DELIVERING JUSTICE, RENEWING TRUST

The tribute and goodwill ex gratia payments to the six Supreme Court judges who were sacked in 1988 as recognition of their contribution by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which he described as a legacy that still haunted the nation, can be seen as a direct blow and disrespect for precedent under the regime of Tun Dr Mahathir that might undermine the image of Tun.

Abdullah said, “I do not presume to equate your contributions, pain and loss with mere currency, but I hope that you can accept this as a heartfelt and sincere gesture to mend what has been.”

He said the time had come to write a proud and new chapter and commitment towards upholding justice and to acknowledge the pain and loss the six Supreme Court judges endured.

“For me and for many other Malaysians, these towering judicial personalities represent a very different era for the nation’s judiciary. Many feel that the judiciary then was a venerable institution that could be trusted to deliver justice."

“Some even hailed Malaysia’s judiciary as a model for other countries – independent and credible. “This level of trust and respect for the judiciary, we must all admit, is simply not as strong as it was before.”

MAKKAL OSAI THREATENED RACIAL HARMONY

In Malaysia, the government is against any media violated guidelines threatening racial harmony by raising sensitive issues, which can be taken action. The media should contribute to society with regards to building a more united Malaysia and portray moving forward in creating more unity, understanding and goodwill.

Malaysian Tamil-language daily newspaper, Makkal Osai received a letter from the home ministry refusing to renew its annual publishing license, without giving reasons, is seen as the punishment for raising sensitive issues, which can threaten racial harmony.

Malaysia's home minister said Thursday he decided to stop a leading Tamil-language daily newspaper being published because it had violated guidelines threatening racial harmony.

Earlier Thursday, Syed Hamid said the newspaper had breached some of the ministry’s licensing guidelines and many complaints against Makkal Osai. When the times comes for renewal, the Home Ministry decided not to renew it.

Syed Hamid said that because Malaysia was a multi-racial and multi-religious country, there were very sensitive issues, which necessitated the need for media guidelines. "We do not simply not renew a license, but the media should be careful in raising issues that were extremist or could cause misunderstandings.” "We have media guidelines and we do not simply cancel a publication permit.

In the case of Makkal Osai, we do not cancel the permit but decided not to extend it." He said if the newspaper was not satisfied with the decision, it could appeal "and we will then look at it again." On the other hand, Makkal Osai general manager S.M. Periasamy has presented a letter to the publication division of the Home Ministry appealing for its publishing license.

TAMIL DAILY MAKKAL OSAI BANNED AGAIN

Malaysian Tamil Daily Makkal Osai or “The People’s Voice” has a circulation of 52,000 was banned again.

The banning can be interpreted as sending a clear massage to the paper that has cross the border either in its content or reporting. As a responsibility newspaper, social responsibly should always be the top priority.

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Malaysiakini reported the Home Ministry today rejected the renewal of Tamil daily Makkal Osai's publication permit, a move believed to be related to the widespread coverage given to the opposition.

When contacted, Makkal Osai general manager SM Periasamy confirmed that the ministry issued the letter, which stated that the daily's application 'will not be considered'.

The letter did not state any reasons for the rejection.

According to Periasamy, the daily - which is closely linked to former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam - had submitted an application for renewal in July, three months ahead of its permit's expiry.

Makkal Osai, whose office is located in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, has some 100 staff. Their fate remains unknown.

This is not the first time that the newspaper ran into trouble. On Aug 24 last year, the government lapped a one-month suspension after the Tamil daily published an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a beer can four days ago.

It was published as a weekly newspaper for 15 years before it became a daily in December 2005. It is an offshoot of Tamil Osai, which ceased operations in 1990 following a management dispute.

INFORMATION WAR BETWEEN CNN CAFFERTY AND CHINESE IS ON

Is CNN a network that reports the news in an objective and balanced fashion or just a blatant discrimination against an ethnic group of people with such a derogatory connotation?

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- China is shocked by and strongly condemns CNN host Jack Cafferty's remarks, which maliciously attacked the Chinese people, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

Cafferty said in a TV show on April 9 that the Chinese products are "junk" and the Chinese people "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years".

"Cafferty used the microphone in his hands to slander China and the Chinese people, seriously violated professional ethics of journalism and human conscience", said Jiang.

What he did "reflected his arrogance, ignorance and hostility towards the Chinese people, ignited indignation of Chinese home and abroad, and will be condemned by those who safeguard justice around the world", said Jiang.

"We strongly demand CNN and Cafferty himself take back the vile remarks and apologize to all Chinese people," Jiang said.

(CNN) -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded Tuesday that CNN's Jack Cafferty apologize for remarks he made last week, in which he called the Chinese "goons and thugs" and said products manufactured in China are "junk."

"Cafferty used the microphone in his hands to slander China and the Chinese people (and) seriously violated professional ethics of journalism and human conscience," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

She said Cafferty's remarks "reflected his arrogance, ignorance and hostility towards the Chinese people, ignited indignation of Chinese (at) home and abroad and will be condemned by those who safeguard justice around the world."

CNN issued a statement saying, "It was not Mr. Cafferty's nor CNN's intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and [CNN] would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way."

In its statement issued Tuesday, CNN said Cafferty was offering his "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not China's people, adding that he clarified the point Monday.

The network noted that "over many years, Jack Cafferty has expressed critical comments on many governments, including the U.S. government and its leaders."