BBC: No political pressure to drop RPK

rpk

(TMI) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — The BBC denied today that it was pressured to drop Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin from its influential Hardtalk programme this week.

The network said its research found out that interviewing the Malaysia-Today website founder would affect an ongoing court case in Malaysia.

Given that the BBC and most major news organisations usually invite newsmakers after research is done on them and the subject, the answer from the BBC appears peculiar.

An interview date had also been given for RPK to appear and the cancellation came late last week after the interview had been publicised by the blogger's fans.

“The BBC researches many different stories, it is the normal process of news and current affairs throughout the media that not all make it to air for a variety of editorial reasons,” said the network in a statement issued via its senior press officer Peter Connor.

“In this case, it became clear in our research that any comprehensive interview with former Malaysia Today Editor Raja Petra Kamarudin would prominently feature issues that are currently the subject of a current court case in Malaysia, which raise issues of defamation,” it added.

The BBC however did not specify the court case.

Early this week, Malaysia-Today posted that Raja Petra was informed by BBC’s Bridget Osborne that the interview had been cancelled as it “would upset the Malaysian government and may even expose the BBC to legal action.”

But the BBC insisted today that the network was not under political pressure and the decision was in line with its editorial policy.

“The suggestion that the item was dropped due to political pressure is untrue. All BBC programmes adhere to the same strict editorial guidelines which ensure complete editorial independence and impartiality,” said the statement.

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Comments (33) Add Comment

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written by bloodhound, September 02, 2010 15:11:44

Just wondering why APCO was paid those multi millions of dollars by the Malaysian government.

Was it worth it? The tentacles of deception abounds.

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written by antares, September 02, 2010 09:30:21

BBC it's all about Bollocks, Bollocks and Cuntoi! Isn't that a typical English foreign policy?

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written by imanj, September 02, 2010 04:00:11

Pete...Why not try CNN..???...Or just get on TV eslewhere..just don't tell anyone until just before the show is aired.. Don't care what happens after..I am sure it can be done..!!! Worst things are happening right now anyway...people calling others dirty..What the ******!!!!

Look people,it is not the first time non-muslims have entered a mosque..I had many non-muslim guest attend my wedding at the mosque..So who is anyone to call others dirty and what permission do we need..Like I said before being muslim I have entered various mosques in other parts of the world for they allow tourist to visit and even when there is prayers going on..Want to debate?

Malaysia is so cancer-stricken,let's see if we aren't heading for a civil war based on the crap by politicians and their wannabes...!!!!

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written by DreamLady, September 02, 2010 00:15:29

Hello there BBC!! you are not the end of the world for Raja Petra. if you could not honour your word and choose to take a U-turn instead, it goes to show you are without a spine, whatever excuses you cooked up is just mere excuses, WE DON'T BUY IT!! Period!!!!

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written by bambooman, September 01, 2010 23:27:52

hello BBC........i agree you are not under POLITICAL pressure to drop the TALK ! ! ! !
but maybe you are under FAT Ros mama PLEASURE to drop it ? ? ? ?
oh ! oh !.......i wish you the best of LUCK ! ! ! !
you can engage our IGP Musa Hassan as your CON-sultant ! ! ! !

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written by Motherchell, September 01, 2010 22:03:05

Yes its true my dear Bloodhound, there is more to what meets the eye. These Big Breasted Chicken is fit for the chopping board. They have become wimps and sure know how to clean themselves well with Oxford sonnets!!

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written by sonofmalaysia, September 01, 2010 20:42:17

the next thing the Brits will do is to put up on eBay a date with their queen!!

Not only the sun has set on their empire, now they are 3rd rate 2nd hand car salesman , will do anything to close a deal !!

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written by bloodhound, September 01, 2010 19:46:43

"The network said its research found out that interviewing the Malaysia-Today website founder would affect an ongoing court case in Malaysia."

What a lame excuse!

Since when had BBC worry about kangaroo courts?
There must be more than meets the eye.

BBC was supposed to be a fearless defender of freedom of information/press. If they had done their homework on the issues pertaining RPK, they should be able to defend their interviews even though it touches upon sensitive areas.

Is BBC trying to tell us that they had not done their homework and therefore are unable to defend their penetrating interview with RPK? So much for abdicating their role in press freedom - it's just too hard for them! - or is it?

Could there be any other explanation besides the lame and flimsy official ones that had been dished out? Their official explanation begs more questions.

Freedom seems to have a different meaning for BBC - if it negatively affects their bottom line, then, it seems it's not a worthy cause. A right is not a right if it wrongly affects the bottomline.

Sad say for freedom.

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written by onnetline, September 01, 2010 17:21:29

BBC has lose it's credibility with Malaysians !

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written by aryn, September 01, 2010 17:19:00

Once, I put BBC above CNN. Now, I changed my mind. I guess, BBC has always been a follower. Never a leader...shame.

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written by Motherchell, September 01, 2010 16:11:56

Great piece my dear mob1900. The message is crystal clear!! These are the shudders the guilty fear and keep their window blinds down. Keep it coming!!!
Cheers to you .
Regds.

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written by mob1900, September 01, 2010 16:03:57

Just one of the many weapons in UMNGOK's WMD arsenal. No wonder the 'Great' was taken out from Great Britain.

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written by bigben, September 01, 2010 15:58:36

The Brits are cheap to buy. First it was the pathologist in the Teo Beng Hock case who lied for a paltry sum. No it is BBC. I think the carpetman has his hands in this. What has happened to Bala and Altantuya?

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written by fireduck, September 01, 2010 15:56:22

Fatimah Zuhri wrote:

Guys/gals, please listen. Raja Petra was NEVER invited nor was he ever scheduled to be interviewed by the BBC. It was all a LIE. None of the 5 current producers of BBC Hardtalk ever invited Petra before to be on the programme.

I guess she should eat crows now! Her credibility is in smithereens and Pete looks ever so good. ;-)

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written by JJFoo, September 01, 2010 15:41:08

RPK is too hard, too large and too controversial for HARDtalk to handle.

Imagine “A PM was accused to be involved in murder and chooses to ignore the accusation and ............................................” be part of the interview.

After all, a forty five minutes program will not be sufficient to cover or to bring about the justice RPK is seeking for Malaysian. Only a documentary would suffice.

BBC should seriously consider using or collaborating with RPK to boost their international rating by championing for human rights and in exchange provide RPK an international platform to unmask the injustice imposed upon Malaysian.

There are more than enough materials for a very interesting and meaningful documentary.

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written by red1, September 01, 2010 15:32:06

No wonder the British ran away when the Japanese landed here. When the Japanese gone back, the British returned. No wonder China Emperor call them Kuai Loh.. White Barbarians.

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written by avj, September 01, 2010 15:27:24

What bullshit, money talks and Bullshitting Bulldog Company obliged to take a walk.

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written by samadhi8, September 01, 2010 15:24:12

BBC, please close shop. You are in the wrong business.

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written by reeperbahn, September 01, 2010 15:24:01

...if BBC does'nt come out with a better excuse its going to lose a lot of listeners.

bbc; you are financed by the taxpayers of britain - just remember that. one day you'll have to share this money with the other networks. I hope that day comes soon.

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written by truthbespoken, September 01, 2010 15:10:32

Of course the Malaysian government did not pressure BBC. Her consultants APCO's quick links did. Not Hard Talk, It's Money Talks.

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written by arazak, September 01, 2010 15:05:09

Damn. . ., didn't they do a thorough research before they invited RPK and put a date for the interview? BBC competency is just like Bolehland MACC Anti-corruption agency. The MACC charge first than only conduct the investigation! No research whatsoever about a case!

Same thing here. . ., invite the personality, fix a date, than only do research. BBC also screamed that Sadam Hussein has WMD to the tune of George Bush. Eventually when they did enough research it was proven as lies.

If I am RPK, I wouldn't loose sleep for this cancelled interview with an unprofessional broadcast media. I am now putting BBC as the same level as Radio Talivisyen Malaysia (RTM) and the UMNO regime lapdog spin media, Utusan Meloya!

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written by cheekhiaw, September 01, 2010 14:32:40

Never believe anything until it has been officially denied - Claude Cockburn

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written by budak kampong, September 01, 2010 14:23:36

Fatimah ranted so loudly that probably burst her own eardrums. where is she now?

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written by albert zacharias, September 01, 2010 13:47:35

Dear BBC... you only ask questions and let RPK do the talking. What subjudice???? RPK is already wanted by Malaysian Police, MACC, courts and some politicians personally. Why BBC so scared????

Come on BBC, show some balls ok?

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written by Vivarium, September 01, 2010 13:44:31

Between being subservient to Malaysia UMNO via APCO AND uncovering the truth in the interest of Malaysian people, BBC was finally brought to its knee by the former.
The stature of BBC being an international independent news provider has now reduced to mere backlane tabloid junk ! What a shame to Britain and tremendous blow to freedom of information movement.

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written by panca, September 01, 2010 13:13:36

Why all the hassle to try to make as if only what RPK was going to be on Hardtalk was anything a legal concern whereby almost if not all were actually concerned with the both government and of legal against the People. This where we need the open space outside of the country who can have ear and become a mouthpiece but unfortunately this is exactly the same as what we are going through despite what BBC supposedly stand up for. This is just not on, BBC.

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written by a guest, September 01, 2010 13:12:16

What BBC is saying is that they invite people for interview first, and then only they do the research. God, are these the people who once ruled the world?

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written by Wally, September 01, 2010 12:57:51

As I said before, something doesn't stack up here. The programme would not be going out live, so there would be plenty of time to edit out any bits the Beeb thought to be politically incorrect. All they have to do is conduct a 1-hour or more interview and delete the questions and subsequent answers that could land RPK or Aunty in trouble. Defamation and the like wouldn't come into it.

I'm sorry HARDtalk producers – your bosses' reasons for not going ahead are piss poor. No wonder the good people of Malaysia suspect that there is more to your about-face than you are letting on. So come on BBC, do yourself a favour and regain some credibility – tell us what really lies behind your decision to back away from RPK!

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written by Angela Ooi, September 01, 2010 12:47:39

Nahhhhh, not convinced...$$$ rule.

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written by asiana888, September 01, 2010 12:46:26

Aiyah, BBC! Really ah, BBC, you did research and worried about Malaysian courts? They have the best judiciary that money can buy.
Why didn't your (UK) government do similar research before bombing Iraq into a shit hole it is today?
We better change to viewing Al-Jazeera for real reporting Without Fear or Favor!!!