Thursday, 05-Aug-2004 7:34 AM

Originally dated 7 November 2003

SBS' public denial is subterfuge

On 31 October 2003, SBS issued a public denial that it had not conspired with Bernama and other parties to smear Anwar Ibrahim’s name by insinuating that he was linked to international Islamic terrorists.

SBS claims journalistic excellence and that the piece they did “exposing” Anwar’s links to terrorists was well researched. But there seems to be many things wrong though that point to the fact SBS may not quite be as thorough and meticulous as they claim to be. In fact, the evidence seems to point to a deliberate attempt to mislead the viewers.

First of all, the SBS Dateline feature of 22 October 2003 was about international Islamic terrorists and Anwar’s alleged links to them. Why then is the heading of its 31 October 2003 piece on its website called “Dateline response on MAHATHIR story”. Should it not be “Dateline response on ANWAR story”?

(Then, if you were to watch the feature, it shows the Kajang Prison that it claims is where Anwar is incarcerated in. The entire world knows Anwar has been in the Sungai Buloh Prison for five years now).

There is definitely something gravely wrong and sinister about SBS Dateline's so public denial on its website.

1. In the history of SBS Dateline's operation, the TV station has never made any public denial nor bowed to pressure, no matter how controversial the aired programs were. And yet, on the alleged Anwar's terrorism activities, SBS has done just that.

Have they realised they are now wrong but refuse to admit their mistake?

2. It is grossly misleading that the denial on the website is entitled "Dateline response on Mahathir story". This is false as the subject of the Dateline program on 22 October 2003 was specifically on Anwar. SBS is deliberately misleading the public because, just a week later, on their immediate next airing on 29 October 2003 (SBS Dateline is a weekly program), Dateline aired a substantial program on Mahathir's visit to Papua New Guinea. And Dateline's denial on the Anwar program was placed directly above the program aired on 29 October 2003 entitled "Mahathir's Pacific Solution".

Those who have not viewed "Anwar's" program on the 22 October 2003 would no doubt think the SBS denial is related to the Mahathir program. And those who view the "Mahathir's Pacific Solution" will not find any controversial issue at all. Hence, those who read the SBS Dateline's denial on Anwar on their website will be stumped as to why such a commotion is being created over a particularly non-controversial program.

This is not only grossly misleading but deliberate subterfuge. It shows SBS is the pawn of some government and Ginny Stein is being paid to sully the reputation of Anwar.

3. Notice that the SBS Dateline archives DOES NOT profile and mention much less have a transcript of the Anwar program. This is again the first time ever that SBS Dateline does not profile AND does not have a transcript of a program previously aired. Granted that, in the past, there are some programs that do not have transcripts, but ALL programs previously aired will always be profiled and have a mention on the archives.

This is sinister in the extreme and obviously SBS Dateline has something grave to hide.

4. Further to that, the SBS Dateline's public denial DOES NOT mention the date of the Anwar program. Therefore, the innocent public is none the wiser as they cannot refer to a previously aired program on the archives as there is NONE and they are unable to find the mis-titled "Mahathir" story.

SBS deliberately misleads the public as they have made substantial errors in the "Anwar" program.

5. SBS Dateline's public denial of 31 October 2003 claims that FAC’s allegations are "completely untrue and fanciful in the extreme" and "are grotesque lies". These same descriptions are in fact accurate in describing the program on Anwar aired by SBS Dateline on 22 October 2003 and poorly researched by the terrorist mercenary Ginny Stein and assisted by a bus cleaner from Sydney, Australia.