Making sense of the recent saga involving Nga and some powerful media warlords

 

For me to write this piece, it would be a great risk of even having my bread and butter affected given that powerful local media warlords are involved.

If these media gatekeepers insist that the public must be free to express their views, then I trust they will extend that same courtesy to mine. I find it timely to reflect on the recent exchange between a journalist and Madani government minister, Nga Kor Ming. After all, if my perspective is met with disdain, it would suggest a troubling contradiction—where those who champion free expression are, in practice, dismissing it, not forgetting that they are also in their sunset years, a fact that they cannot deny. 

Understanding the true saga

While I must acknowledge that Nga can come across as rather abrasive—not just with media personnel, but also with ordinary Malaysians like myself. I experienced this firsthand when I brought along a woman, Vimala, who had quite a practical solution to the monkey issue. 

For me, a warm handshake and proper eye contact would have gone a long way in making any of us feel welcomed, regardless of our humble status.

Instead, Nga did not even bother to look at me in the eye, but reluctantly gave me a cold handshake, while looking at other direction. I could only imagine that he had heard rumours that tainted my real intentions, which probably portrayed me as being critical of the DAP and Pakatan Harapan in Selangor. In short, he could have probably seen me as an adversary. 

Of course, Nga was wrong as all I wanted is a state government that can deliver its best services to the people. This, after all, was the very reason we all hoped in a people-friendly state government—one that, regrettably, has since Azmin Ali's era, lost its shine.

Despite my wife and I decided to relocate our voting station back in the early years of the new state government just to lend an additional few votes to Selangor, I regret that Selangor is not able to deliver the reforms proper. 

Nga probably did not know that, like many, although I maintained good relationship with some ministers in the past, I was unhappy with with the then Barisan Nasional Government, especially after it failed to solve many of our housing estate issues. 

Please learn from these past lessons

My frustration with the BN government deepened when I witnessed how former Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was vilified to the extent that he was pressured to resign—a pattern reminiscent of the treatment faced by our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Today, we see echoes of that same hostility directed at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, despite the significant strides he has made in governance while fending off relentless attacks.

Over the years, I have also observed how the "all powerful" media actively promoted a campaign to eliminate the once-thriving mini buses, making way for Intrakota. Even after Intrakota was replaced by RapidKL, the system has not matched the agility and effectiveness of the mini buses. The only sign of improved efficiency today lies in three factors -- regularity, affordability and comfort. The introduction of Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) vans, along with significant improvements in public transport following the launch of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, has contributed to increased usage among commuters like myself.

Regrettably, instead of regulating and allowing the mini buses to continue operating, the government at the time chose to remove them entirely—erasing a mode of transport that had served the public well. I will not be surprised if I am told that the media campaign was orchestrated. 

Had the mini buses survived to this day, their extensive route coverage could have easily persuaded many motorists to switch to public transport. In a city like Kuala Lumpur, getting around would feel like being Super Mario—hopping swiftly from one bus to another (in much the same way as riding on trams in Melbourne) and reaching your destination within minutes, without the burden of long waiting times. 

So, to these media warlords, I appeal once again, although they believe that their pens are mightier than the sword, they must exercise control instead of serving their political masters. We are now in our sunset years. Think, instead, of the future of this country for the sake of our children and grandchildren. 

That said, I appreciated Nga's prompt and pragmatic response to Vimala, who volunteered to help City Hall address the longstanding problem of monkeys loitering on the streets. Her approach involved studying the primates’ diet, rehabilitating their natural habitat, and planting food-bearing trees to keep them away from urban areas—a solution rooted in both compassion and ecological insight. She was not pitching for any big projects involving millions of ringgit, but simply an idea which I thought would be worth giving it a try.

From that moment, I could see that Nga immediately expressed genuine interest in her proposal and said he would reach out to Kuala Lumpur City Hall mayor, Maimunah Shariff, to explore the idea further. A man of action, rather than some who just say, "Let me think about it." From that brief encounter, I gathered that Nga is a no-nonsense individual: if an idea is sound, he is willing to give it a fair shot.

To understand his approach, one must first appreciate his personality is different. It would be unrealistic to expect him to warm up to others in the same way Anwar did—striking an immediate rapport with U.S. President Donald Trump during Trump’s recent visit to Malaysia. 

What Transpired and Why?

Now, as the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Nga had just launched the 'I Lite U lighting' initiative in Bukit Bintang when he was asked why English, instead of the national language, was used. 

While it is fair to say that the Utusan Malaysia reporter was merely posing a straightforward question—and Nga could have chosen to withhold his rather uncouth response—his reaction is also understandable. After all, the question came from a newspaper with a long and strained history with the DAP, which may have coloured his response.

A quick check with Microsoft Copilot refreshes one's memory to a string of controversies highlighted by Utusan Malaysia in the past. Click the Copilot's response to read for yourself, but for the sake of convenience, I have also copied and pasted the text below: 

Utusan Malaysia has historically highlighted several controversies involving the Democratic Action Party (DAP), often framing them in ways that stirred public debate or political tension.

Here are some of the most notable issues Utusan Malaysia has played up over the years:

🗳️ Allegations of Election Fraud in DAP's CEC

• In 2013, Utusan Malaysia published articles suggesting manipulation in DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections, citing a mysterious figure named "Father Augustus Chen" who accused Lim Kit Siang of rigging the results.

• DAP leaders, including Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng, responded with legal action, issuing letters of demand to Utusan for defamation.

🧨 Sosma Arrests and LTTE Allegations

• In 2019, Utusan covered the arrest of 12 DAP members under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) for alleged links to the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

• Although the charges were later dropped, the coverage contributed to public suspicion and political pressure, especially among conservative voters.

🕌 Religious Sensitivities and Halal Certification

• DAP leaders have occasionally been scrutinized for comments on Islamic institutions or halal certification, such as Teresa Kok’s remarks that drew backlash and investigations.

• Utusan’s coverage often amplified these incidents, framing them as disrespectful to Malay-Muslim values, which fueled ethnic and religious tensions.

🤝 Alleged Political Alliances

• Utusan has also reported on rumors of cooperation between DAP and MCA, especially ahead of elections. These reports were later denied by MCA leaders, but they served to sow doubt and confusion among voters.

In recent years, Utusan Malaysia has faced significant challenges, nearly collapsing under financial strain. Its readership plummeted—alongside that of the New Straits Times, once led by prominent figures like Kadir Jasin and Kalimulah Hassan.

Against this backdrop, Nga’s abrupt response isn’t entirely surprising. Had the reporter framed the question with greater tact, I suspect Nga's tone would have been more measured.

For instance, the reporter could have chosen to ask more tactfully, “Given that Bahasa Malaysia is the national language, will the current government place greater emphasis on its use? And in certain settings, could we create opportunities for tourists to experience spoken Bahasa Malaysia as a way to promote our national identity?” Such questions would likely have elicited a more constructive response.

In some of his TikTok posts, Nga appears more composed in his responses despite the fierce objections he faced with the Urban Renewal Act (URA). To me, Nga has come under a lot of stress caused by his political adversaries. Again, the objections to the URA seem largely politically motivated, rather than grounded in sincere concern for today’s “Patches” (to borrow from Dickey Lee’s 1962 ballad)—individuals who still endure life in crumbling apartments, long past the point of being fit for human habitation. I hope we can move beyond political theatrics and refocus our energy on the real work of nation-building.

It is, therefore, not surprising that Nga’s response was curt: “Please focus on nation-building.” But, giving that he had even tendered apology, it should be the end of the story. No one wins in this game.

I have always believe that the national language has its place, but when addressing an international audience, it is only reasonable to ensure that the language used is accessible and intelligible to them.

Signages in Japan

Signages in Japan

Please follow Traffic Rules when you drive
 in Thailand 

Please search the dictionary if you do not understand what this sign says

 

THE English name of Kuala Lumpur’s new Bukit Bintang urban lighting project, “I LITE U”, is purely a marketing tool designed to appeal to international visitors, and not an attempt to diminish the Malay language, the city’s mayor has clarified.