low graphics version | feedback | help
Malaysian newspaper apologises for doctored photo
Former Deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim standing next to PM Mahathir Mohamad in 1995 |
Technology has put current Deputy PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Mr Ibrahim's place |
Malaysia's biggest Chinese-language newspaper has apologised for altering a photograph to remove jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim from a line-up of Barisan Nasional leaders.
The photo, taken in 1995, appeared in the 14 November edition of Sin Chew Jit Poh and was doctored using modern technology to replace Mr Ibrahim with the current Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The editor-in-chief of the paper, Liew Chen Chuan, said that the mistake was committed by a junior sub-editor who "felt that as Anwar Ibrahim was no longer in the Barisan National, his presence in that photograph was inappropriate."
 This was a violation of the cardinal principle of journalism  |
| Editor-in-chief Liew Chen Chuan |
Complaints about the changed photograph first appeared on the internet, especially through the Chinese discussion group Kopitiam.
The editor of the section in which the photo appeared posted a message defending himself. He wrote that the picture was "not meant to reflect the reality of the event".
Mistake 'will not be repeated'
A few days later the internet media site "Malaysiakini" posted the photo side-by-side another taken at the same event, to prove the Sin Chew Jit Poh photo had been doctored.
On Monday night the paper issued its full explanation and apology, adding that the mistake, "the first such ever", would not be repeated.
 |
|
The controversy has highlighted the role that the internet is playing in Malaysian politics.
It is seen to have broken the government's control over information by offering an alternative source of news
Opposition parties are using the Internet to distribute political tracts and other information that the mass media will not publish.
But its reach is still limited. Malaysia has nearly 600,000 subscribers and 1.5 million users of the internet in a population of 22 million.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
|
|
See also: |
|
 |
|
 |
16 Nov 99 | Asia-Pacific |
|
Malaysia's much-maligned media |
| |
|
|
17 Nov 99 | Asia-Pacific |
|
Malaysia opposition challenges election |
| |
|
|
15 Nov 99 | Asia-Pacific |
|
Analysis: The challenge for Malaysia's reformers |
| |
|
|
11 Nov 99 | Asia-Pacific |
|
Party guide: Malaysia's opposition alliance |
| |
|
|
10 Nov 99 | Asia-Pacific |
|
Profile: Malaysia's strongman Mahathir |
| |
|
|
Internet links: |
|
|
|
|
|
Alternative Alliance: joint opposition manifesto |
| |
|
|
Office of the Malaysian PM |
| |
|
|
Anwar Online |
| |
|
|
Malaysiakini website |
| |
|
|
Sin Chew Jit Poh Newspaper (in Chinese) |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
|
Links to other Asia-Pacific stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~05~RS~)