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                                                        Image from: Malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com

10 years ago I was a little boy. I did not really understand what was the meaning of fasting or berpuasa when my nanny said she is fasting. Fasting means to abstain “completely” from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset during the entire month of Ramadan (Arafat 2012).  In addition, Christian does fasting as well in several occasions such as Easter day.

Image from: Malaysiakini.tv

In August 2011, Malaysia society was shocked when The Star published an article of a non-halal restaurant with buka puasa stories in its “Dining Out” supplement. This article can be considered as inappropriate or offending because Islam society in Malaysia is celebrating fasting. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hessein gave a serious attention to this mistake and he admonished The Star Company. He said, “Mainstream media should be more responsible and try to avoid offending any community.” They should know their limit and should not follow the style of online media (The Star Online, 2012). Hishammuddin met The Star executive director and group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai to listened the explanation about the accident for 45 minutes. Wong Chun also had a meeting with secretary general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam and deputy secretary general (security) Datuk Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi to hand over the reply to the ministry’s show cause letter. In the end, The Star apologized for the mistake.

Malaysia is one of the strong Islamic countries. Muslim always believes with their Islamic ideology such as do not eat pork for their whole life. Ideology is a philosophical term meaning the ‘Science of Ideas’ and Idea is again a subtle and very comprehensive term (My Opera 2007). Ideology is known as Faith (Iman) as well.

The Star made a wrong step by publishing the article. Media are expected to conform to common standards of professional respect and civility (Applied science innovation, 2012). Media also should not publish article that can create a misunderstanding and follow the ideology in that country.

(340 words)

Reference:

Applied Science Innovation 2012, Ethnics in publishing, viewed 10 June 2012 http://www.applied-science-innovations.com/cst-web-site/cst-ethics%20in%20publishing.html

Ashi, A, E 2012, Fasting in Islam, viewed 10 June 2012 http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~muslims/fasting.htm

My Opera 2012, Islamic Ideology, viewed 10 June 2012, http://my.opera.com/Religion.Islam/blog/2007/11/28/islamic-ideology

The Star Online 2012, Home Ministry reprimands The Star over supplement, newspaper, viewed 10 June 2012 http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/17/nation/9314117&sec=nation