Listen, see who's talking, again !

Known widely as Datuk Zam, he was formerly group editor-in-chief of the Umno-owned mass-selling newspaper Utusan Malaysia, once likened bloggers to karaoke singers who take pleasure in their own singing but have no influence although they claimed to have received millions of hits, he asked the public to be wise in identifying the websites of goblok (Indonesian slang for “stupid”) bloggers, who are willing to be tools of others to destroy the nation.

He also doesn’t seem to understand the essence of Energy, Water and Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik’s point, so how can he appreciate a good comment? Keng Yaik commended The Sun “for being ‘Malaysian’ in its reports and for not playing on communal sentiments”.

He wondered, “Is there any Malaysian press where we can talk as Malaysians and as Bangsa Malaysia? Is there any?” He answered his question by stating that such a press was The Sun. Keng Yaik remarked that “it would not augur well for the nation if all the newspapers resorted to reporting based on racial sentiments”. That was all that was reported in The Sun.

Yet Zainuddin has no qualms in concocting all kinds of nonsense and twisting what was actually said and is reported to give sinister insinuations to condemn The Sun. He assumes too many things and quotes things that were never intended or stated. This only exposes him as a cheap politician who recklessly says anything to score a political point. That is revolting.

Where is the basis for his statement: “To say that The Sun newspaper is a champion of Bangsa Malaysia shows that Dr Lim Keng Yaik sympathises with the newspaper which has all this while fought more for (the DAP's) 'Malaysian Malaysia'.”

What is Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin raving about? What is Info Minister Zam's motive? Read Malaysiakini "What is Info Minister Zam's motive?" here.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin attacked theSun for a second time today after launching Bernama's all-news radio station Radio24.

Besides repeating his allegations that theSun was pro-DAP, he also said the newspaper supports Parti Keadilan and gave too much space to the views of young people.

"He who is a supporter of Keadilan, those whose positions are against the government, youngsters, they will get a place in theSun," Zainuddin said.

"Are they [theSun] the voice of DAP or Keadilan? I don't know."

He also attacked internet bloggers and newspapers which treat bloggers as a source of information.

"I don't understand why some newspapers want to project some of these websites as being crucial [and claim that they are] read by six million people.

"Who are these six million? Foreigners? Are they read by people who determine the political power in this country?" he asked.

Zainuddin Maidin has reminded the print media, especially newspapers, not to confuse the public about bloggers' influence.

"A number of newspapers have created the impression that bloggers have a big influence on the people," he told reporters after the launching of Radio24 here today.

He questioned the need of these newspapers to give credit to bloggers when the number of blogsite audience did not reflect the actual local readership.

"Who actually read bloggers' websites? Most of them are intellectuals while those in rural areas, who wield a greater power in political elections, do not read these websites," he said.

Zainuddin said he did not believe bloggers had a big influence on the people as they lacked credibility.

Zainuddin said the bloggers' credibility would disappear, especially when they joined certain political parties.