When Dr M’s ‘shoot’ became ‘shoo’ – and story on boat people got shot down

A sensational news article 43 years ago is making the headlines today after Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s daughter Marina erroneously attributed his “shoot on sight” comments to the then “home minister” the Ghazalie Shafie.

Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.

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#FMTNews #VietnamRefugee #PulauBidong #1979 #Mahathir

[daclachoang]

I was a refugee in 1986 in Malaysia. I did not know that was the intention of one individual. That was terrifying!
Nonetheless, we thank you Malaysians who had opened their arms to allow the Vietnamese boat people to have a land to live. You are wonderful and we Vietnamese refugees did not and will never forget your kindness.

[sepilokfui]

Marina is defending a father who is undefendable because he is what he is!

[spaideman]

if u are old enough and follow thru all his actions, u will know that he IS the main cause of horrible corrupt politics in malaysia.

[farihamohamedhilmy]

I couldn’t be anymore terrified living in a country where a leader’s mindset into thinking that violence is the answer 😳😨

[noname-brkn]

Current home minister welcome rohingya with open arms, red carpet and IC waiting for them

[redpill]

Yes we need strong leader, , fortune favours the bold

[powerbar]

Well, I am no longer shocked some revealed the fact if it was from Tun M himself. How he made Sabahan people defined his own true self.
1) From the richest resources became the 2nd most poor state
2) Viewed Sabahan as a 2nd class Malaysia citizenship during his reign
3) Simply manipulate the media with the twisted information news so no one from West Malaysia knows the truth what happened in East Malaysia.
4) Cabotage policy implemented successfully until today even KPDNHEP are only just KPDNHEP. How? Look at the Chicken price tell the truth because local chicken price should be lowered but it doesn't.

After 27 years, I learned the terrible truth about the Tun M method by used Malay people special privileges ultimatum as part of main provocation and oppressed other races enticed enough to put a little restless, a modern day "Divide and Conquer" from the old British Empire methods. Fully better than previous version with focus on total mentally grip control. A successful method that Tun M able to weakened Malay people earlier by giving a lot privileges and free access without having any hardship or unchallenged until to the point where the effects can be seen today such as The lucrative promise Legendary elusive Jambatan Labuan 5 years recycled and famous BR1M that you can say "Dedak2" continues with a different name and version no matter what name, it remains the same way. Mentally under control from someone won't easily be able to recover or overcome it for a short time especially when you already have been exposed for too long under the iron grip political country's leader. Only to lose more than what we have stand for.. Until today he never admit the mistakes he made but put the blame on the one that under his control. Even I have nothing to blame Malay people who are the same as me being a pawn of victim in political struggles to stay longer for one cronies dynasty.

[MELAYUSIA]

Dr. Evil from Austin Powers is not the most evil man on the planet.

[advancesg]

Vote for MUDA & Amanah. The country will be eliminated from corruption.

[foongsaupeng]

Alssalamualaikum salam sejahtera Dato' Datin saudara saudari terima kasih banyak banyak.I So Sorry.Thanks u all so much.

[wira]

Original story ...still not original...

[IsaacRizard]

What exactly did Mahathir said? Maybe this journalist was erred if he was the only one reporting it. If it was indeed true, I'm sure it would have been picked up by other journalists as well.

[jackopcarson]

Now the show gets interesting. Ghazali's staunch supporters and Indonesian clans is trying to point fingers as cover-ups... Historically, who held the KDN controls instructions to homeland security forces... Who held the posts back then? Dig Malaysians, dig... young Malaysians are the future leaders of the nation. The must be well versed & prepared for the transitional shift. Facts is facts. 😎✌🏻

[hiyukelavie]

Did the journalist confirm the statement with the person who made it?

Instead of just going back and running the story with it, shouldn't the journalist have confirmed the statement first?

"Can I confirm that you stated shoot on sight?"

Ask that question, and let the person who supposedly made that statement respond

If there was a mistake, then he would have corrected it, and all miscommunication would have been avoided

If he affirmed his statement, then the journalist may even follow up with a second question to confirm that the person making the statement wouldn't mind being quoted

"Can I quote you verbatim in my report?"

If the person doesn't want to be quoted, then let him state that. The journalist can decide what to do together with his editor later

If the journalist had done all this, and the person making the statement affirmed the statement and gave the greenlight to be quoted, then that's that

But the journalist probably did NOT do any of this

After hearing the statement, he probably thought he had a sizzling headline and just rushed back to write his story

This is how sensationalism works

There are always journalists who are so eager to write an eye-catching headline