Malaysia's government has always insisted on a policy of non-

interference when it comes to the matter of international relations

between sovereign states.

However, it is widely accepted that the Malaysian government rarely

practises what it preaches. While it has time and again denounced
attempts by foreigners to say their piece about Malaysia's internal
affairs, the country has not shown any restraint when it comes to
speaking out on matters that clearly are the internal affairs of
other countries.

The Malaysian government by right should be aware of the saying that

people who live in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones but apparently
this is not the case right now.

The Malaysian Information Ministry (perhaps encouraged by the PM's

office and the FM's office) has always broadcast views that clearly
trespassed other countries' national sovereignty.

One of the ways that this has been done is the running of the rtm DUNIA
program on national TV every Saturday evening at 11 pm.

On this program, views that clearly betrayed a one-sided stance are

televised to the public and the so-called expert view or opinion are
introduced to give a semblance of legitimacy to the show.

Most of the views or opinions expressed are really lacking in substance

and it is not wrong to say that they are no more than shallow and dull
propaganda rhetoric. Still, they constitute blatant interference in the
affairs of other sovereign nations since rtm is our national TV.

Would Malaysia now be able to accept Information Ministries of other

countries, especially in the immediate region, to actively shape public
opinion through similar programs on their airwaves, knowing that the
viewers or listeners in Malaysia would be able to tune in as well ?

Malaysia's government should not throw the proverbial stone unless if

it was willing to allow others to do so too.

The particular rtm DUNIA on 13th December touched on the Mumbai attacks
and the view expressed was that the meaning behind the attacks was the
long neglect inflicted on the sufferings of the Muslims had resulted in
the bloody incident in the subcontinent.

Other people in other countries have endured long spells of neglect and
discrimination too. Some of them have suffered repeated physical attasks
as well. Many of the minority figures are regularly harassed or arrested
or threatened. They often get targetted by the police personnel and the
extremists because of their background. The Malaysian government would be
well advised not to miss a thick grown jungle here because it was too
preoccupied with someone else's timber.

The parting view expressed was that the attacks was a lesson to us all, if
we ever allowed Babri mosques to be torn down, if we ever had ties with
Jews or Israel, or if we were pro-Bush, CIA or even Obama.

We must only be pro-Malaysia. And pro-rtm.

Malaysia is still NOT a model to follow. Not by a long shot.