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Money Matters
The independent Malaysian news website Malaysiakini.com suffered a heavy blow when Far East Economic Review wrongly claimed that it was partially funded by George Soros, the person who was accused of causing the Asian Economic Crisis in 97-98.
Malaysian political leaders quickly condemned the website. Government-controlled TV stations and newspapers took the opportunity to portray the website in a bad light.
Subsequently, sponsors did not want to associate with the website for fear of offending the government, regardless of the falsity of the accusations.
The website is now so desperate for funds that it may introduce subscription-based viewing next January.
Accounts 2000 for Malaysiakini.com
|
Income (RM) |
Expenditure (RM) |
||
|
Revenue |
190,011 |
Salaries |
341,071 |
|
Seapa Grant |
375,303 |
Administrative |
120,884 |
|
Other Income |
27,818 |
Other operating costs |
162,963 |
|
Total |
593,132 |
Total |
624,918 |
|
Loss: 31,786) |
|||
| Independent Media Fund Tally sheet |
| 3 months target for IMF : RM 270,000 |
| Collected to date : RM 18,053.75 |
| Balance to go : RM 251,046.25 |
Sintercom
Singapore's counterpart, Sintercom, was forced to close down because of the lack of funds. The Singapore government wanted it to be listed as a political society and thus it could no longer receive foreign funding. Even now that it is revived by another interested party, the issue of funding still remains.
See the revived Sintercom.
CONCLUSION
 |
Many advocates of freedom of speech welcome the arrival of the Internet. We have indeed witnessed the flourishing of independent news websites and online discussions. However, governments have also devised tactics to reduce the subversion of the Internet, either through |
restricted usage of the Internet, or controlling the ISPs, or cutting the source of funding of these websites. Independent websites also find reality hits home when they run short of funds.
Internet giant AOL's takeover of Time-Warner poses a great threat to the independence of the press and we have begun to see that profitability matters more than truth and balanced viewpoints.