A minister must always remain courteous to journalists — no exceptions. Public office demands accountability, and with it comes scrutiny. When ministers emulate the combative behaviour of leaders like Donald Trump, who dismissed media criticism and branded journalists “lapdogs,” they erode the very foundation of democratic transparency.
Ironically, when Pakatan Harapan (PH) was in opposition, its leaders were quick to defend journalists who were berated or sidelined by Barisan Nasional ministers. Today, with power in hand, PH is facing the same unrelenting glare of media and public criticism — and many are faltering under pressure.
Respect
The recent incident involving Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming illustrates this shift. When a Utusan Malaysia journalist questioned why his “I Lite U” campaign carried an English name instead of Bahasa Melayu, Nga responded sharply, demanding to know the journalist’s organisation and threatening to contact the editor over “national interests.”
Such defensiveness is not expected. Drawing a distinction between reprimanding and threatening is essential, but so too is self-restraint.
Calls by some right-wing groups for a media boycott of Nga’s ministry may be excessive, but they reveal a deeper concern — a growing perception that PH ministers are losing their composure under legitimate questioning.
Ministers must remember: criticism comes with the job. The media is not an adversary but a vital partner in ensuring good governance. The real test of leadership lies in how one handles dissent, not in silencing it.
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