Malaysian state-linked media, often criticised for slavish support for Najib Razak, wastes no time backing new government
Malaysia’s main media outlets have long been tightly controlled through laws such as the printing presses and publications act
After decades of slavishly backing the only government Malaysia had ever known, state-linked media are scrambling to find their feet after the election landslide, seeking to shed a reputation as official mouthpieces but facing a challenge from plucky independent websites.
The coalition led by scandal-plagued Najib Razak unexpectedly lost power at the May 9 polls for the first time since independence from Britain in 1957, defeated by a reformist alliance that promised sweeping changes.
The toppling of the authoritarian regime has fuelled hopes of a new era. State-linked media, which had seemed increasingly out of step with the views of many Malaysians yearning for change, wasted no time in switching their support to the new government.
They had spent years backing ex-leader Najib – reporting in only a muted fashion on a massive financial scandal that helped to topple his regime – but quickly began giving blanket coverage to a flurry of fresh revelations related to the controversy, and to the new government of 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad.
Traditionally pro-government media insist they are happy that the shackles have come off and they can now report in a more balanced and fair fashion.
Wong Chun Wai, group managing director and chief executive officer of The Star Media Group – which produces leading daily The Star – said it was “a breath of fresh air for all of us”.
“The public wants reports that will have perspectives from all sides. The media, I am sure, will look forward to that.”