GOH MENG SENG ON FACEBOOK:
I guess LTK is a bit exaggerating here. 20 years ago, the main stream media was even worse than the present BE reporting. We didn't see opposition rebuttals printed on front page headlines 20 years ago but we have seen it now. Relatively speaking, the allocation of space has improved tremendously. It is unfortunate that things don't seem to work towards WP's advantage due to its various internal problems, but this has nothing to do with the press.
It seems that LTK is angry about the newspapers publishing "Secret Squirrel" leaked document (read his Zaobao's reply) as well as the interview. If LTK really believes in providing information to voters to make "informed choice", he won't have argued against Zaobao's initial publication of the leaked document.
In all fairness, Zaobao has seek to get clarification from WP which he has not denied. It is not a difficult thing to answer whether the leaked document is genuine or not and definitely doesn't need 18 hours to do such verification. It is WP's inadequacy in managing that situation which leads to the prolonged doubts lingering in voters' minds.
The leaked document mainly provides voters more information of the issue at hand and plainly contradicts on what Png Eng Huat has said earlier literally. He cannot blame the press for publishing this leaked document because the voters have the right to know whether what Png Eng Huat has said literally is true or not.
From WP's perspective, they may think that they have answered to the alleged contradictions adequately but they have not. It is a clear contradiction still lingering on. The only saving they have, ironically, is from Eric Tan who has confirmed that Png has indicated that he doesn't want the NCMP seat. But even with that, it is clear that Png has misrepresented himself in the initial CNA interview and he should retract that statement graciously and in a timely manner.
Of course LTK is right to blast at the selection of photo on ST front page. There is a great difference between news reporting vs commentary. The headline was to reflect what TCH has said about the issue and it is inappropriate to put it as such. It should accredit such headline to TCH instead of publishing as a matter of fact.
While LTK has the point that MyPaper shouldn't publish the interview with Secret Squirrel without first confirming whether he or she is really WP member or not, but please bear in mind that many scandals like Yaw-gate wouldn't be uncovered if anonymous whistle blowers were to be just ignored.
Regardless on whether there is publication of Secret Squirrel's interview or not, doubts would naturally have cast upon the internal cohesiveness of WP up till now. Only CEC members have records of the Minutes of CEC meetings, unless we were to suspect espionage sources. No matter how we look at it, the leak is most probably have to start from the CEC. The resignation of key candidates (from Eric Tan to Fazli and Sajeev) and PLG enigma would already cast doubts on WP. Shifting all the blame of such doubts on WP to the publication of Secret Squirrel's interview is unwise. Instead, WP should seriously re-examine its internal problems thoroughly.
