THE ONLINE NEW PORTALS’ COVERAGE ON THE 2013 GENERAL ELECTION IN MALAYSIA. (IEC2014)

 

 

 

Azahar Bin Kasim1 and Assoc. Prof. Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani2

1 University Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia.

(w_azahar@uum.edu.my1)2 University Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia.

(azizuddin@uum.edu.my2)

ABSTRACT

 

This research is an important study on the online media coverage and observation of the campaign processes in Malaysia’s 13th General Election on 5th May 2013. There are two types of analysis in this research: 1) Analysis on mainstream online media. Mainstream online media consisted of The Star Online, Berita Harian Online, Bernama Online and Utusan Malaysia Online. 2) Analysis on alternative online media such Harakah Daily, Rocketkini and Keadilan.Net. The analysis covers in the campaign period from 21st April 2013 until the polling day on 5th May 2013. Results obtained are based on the frequencies and percentages of the reports’ coverage on [the BN party and PR party concerning whether it is positive, negative or neutral coverage on either sides. This research applies Content Analysis method of research where the researchers choose and analyze each one of the elections reports and determine them into five categories, BN+, BN-, PR+, PR- and N. In sum, the result shows that the four mainstream online media favour the Barisan Nasional on their coverage. However, the parties’ online media owned by PR alliance parties are totally on the opposite, bias towards their owners.  Keywords: Alternative Online Media, Campaign, Election, General Election, Media, Mainstream Online Media, Parties.

INTRODUCTION

On 5 May 2013, approximately five years after the narrow victory of the ruling party in 2008, Malaysians once again voiced out their stance and favor in the 13th general election.

First general election for the Prime Minister Najib Razak after running office in 2009.

Najib led the ruling-party coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) and its 14 party components. Campaigning on the platform to promote economic growth, and social security, the incumbent party hoped to win big as it did in 2004.

However, the sky is not always that shiny, without good care by the people, ozone depletion and global warming can get in the way.

The same goes to the situation during the 13th general election, which posted a result that was not as expected. It is believed to be caused by a number of infilling citizens’ demands. In addition, it is also particularly of the concerns of the non-Malays.

The government also faced issue of security right before 13th general election just around the corner. Sabah’s been intruded by around 200 Sulu’s Royal Army.

The issue of the freedom was being questioned especially by the oppositions regarding the neutrality in news reporting

Even though the media comprises the numerous channels such as printed media, electronic media and the internet channels, the printed and electronic media are being highlighted since newspaper and television are the most easy access media to the majority of Malaysia.

The neutrality and biasness or favoritism should be the main concern because people have the right to know the truth and both stories-the ruling and opposition parties.

The neutrality and biasness or favoritism should be the main concern because people have the right to know the truth and both stories-the ruling and opposition parties.

OBJECTIVEThe media’s level of neutrality and biasness or favoritism during the pre-election period created a situation that needs to be studied. Therefore, such circumstance becomes the main objective of this paper. To scrutinizes the printed media tendency

towards political parties during election campaign period in order to measure the level of biasness of each online media respectively.

To examine the coverage and tendency of online media toward political parties contested in the 13th general election

The online media consist of mainstream media; Berita Harian Online, Utusan Malaysia Online, Bernama Online and The Star Online.

Alternative new media consist of Harakah Online, Keadilan.Net, MalaysiaKini, Malaysian Insider, and Roket Kini.

METHODOLOGY

The analysis covers from the day of campaign day started on 20th April 2013, until the polling day on 5th May 2013.

The classification of online media tendencies towards political parties is based on the five main components; notably positive BN (+BN), negative BN (-BN), positive PR (Pakatan Rakyat, +PR), negative PR (-PR) and neutral (N).

Specifically, the research focuses on the tendency of the media in their relevancy of reporting towards the supported and opponent parties.

The results are based on the frequencies and percentage of the reports’ coverage on the BN and PR parties concerning whether it is positive, negative or neutral coverage on either sides.

This research applies the Content Analysis method where the researchers choose and analyze each of the elections columns and classify them into five categories, +BN, -BN, +PR, -PR, and N.

The columns selected in the online media are those covering only the election issues. In terms of the parties’ online media the analysis is divided into three categories, -BN, +PR and N which only include the reported election issues.

The reports on the Election Commission (EC) in the parties’ media online are considered as N (neutral) even though the reports are negatively attacking the BN government since there is no transparency situation of the EC.

DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

The mainstream new media consist of Bernama Online, BH Online, The Star Online and Utusan Malaysia Online.

Media are owned by various companies that have intimate connection with the ruling party, Barisan Nasional (BN). For example, Berita Harian is owned by Media Prima Berhad that is claimed to have a close tie with the one of the BN’s wings, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO).

Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, which publishes the Utusan Malaysia, has special relationship with UMNO. Meanwhile, the Huaren Holdings, a company invested by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). Another BN wing publishes The Star.

The alternative new media refer to the opposition parties’ online media such as Harakah Daily, Keadilan.Net, Roket Kini, Malaysian Insider and MalaysiaKini. Harakah Daily owned by Pas and Keadilan. Net owned by PKR.

Both media, Harakah Daily, Keadilan.Net are important in contributing alternative views and ideas and debating the political issues especially during the general election.

Although the impact of these media is less than the mainstream media, they can offer significant information especially from the opposition party which has been denied campaigning in the mainstream media.

In this research, it is found that all of the mainstream new media favored the BN against the PR in their reporting by giving more than 50 percent of positive coverage to the BN.

In terms of negative coverage to the BN, surprisingly The Star Online covered only 1 percent of negative coverage while Bernama Online only 0.5 percent. Unlike BN, PR received only 7 percent positive coverage in The Star Online, 0.2 percent in Bernama Online and 0.2 percent too in BH Online

PR received a higher percentage of negative coverage in Utusan Online with 51 percent, in BH Online 27 percent, Bernama Online 19 percent and The Star Online with 17 percent. Neutral coverage was in the range of 17 to 49 percent for all online media.

Overall, it can be concluded that the mainstream online media are bias towards the ruling BN party

In total the coverage for elections issues between 20th April 2013 until 5th May 2013 there were 268 news by Harakah Daily and 128 news by Keadilan.Net. From the news reported in these two online media, none of it were positive news toward BN.

It is recorded 42 percent negative news for BN in Harakah Daily and 44 percent in Keadilan.Net

In comparison with the mainstream media, the alternative media which belong to the PR – the BN does not have its party online media.

Therefore, the alternative media play a significant role as alternatives to the mainstream media which are bias toward the ruling BN.

However, this type of media is unable to challenge the strength of the mainstream media. If we look at alternative newspaper, it is bimonthly publication and saleable to the only party’s members.

In fact, the circulation of these newspapers is only in the range of 150,000 to 200,000 of each publication.

This is why the alternative newspapers can

only contribute political debates and discussions in a limited public sphere in the Malaysian media. With limited circulations, the alternative media is given limited press freedom in Malaysia. Therefore, the management must sure that the public can access through online media.

CONCLUSION

In overall, the results showed that the coverage and reporting of both sets of online media either mainstream online media or alternative online media were reflected through the ownerships of those media.

The exception is only for the Malaysiakini and the Malaysian Insider where the coverage of Neutral is rather high, meaning that they tried to do an equal coverage for both ruling and opposition party.