Was it really an 'error'?

Blogger Big Dog today highlighted an article published by Malaysiakini on the controversy surrounding Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil with regards to the National Feedlot Centre project.

The article, which Malaysiakini published yesterday, initially quoted Shahrizat as saying that her family deserved the NFC project.

Shahrizat was speaking in response to allegations from certain quarters, including Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, that there was impropriety involved in members of Shahrizat’s family being awarded lucrative contracts under the NFC.

Shahrizat reacted to the article by saying on Twitter: “…don’t accuse me of saying something I didn’t say.”

She also said, “Wow! I see how my statement can be spun and twisted around to follow any agenda.”

“Whoever slandered me by saying I said my family deserved the project, please check, I didn’t say that,” she added.

Shahrizat also lashed out at another portal, Malaysia Chronicle, which she said had also misquoted and slandered her.

“When the story came out in Malaysiakini’s public domain, Shahrizat was very unhappy,” said Big Dog.

“Then she tweeted Steven Gan that the report was a complete lie. Malaysiakini rectified the story four hours later to what it is now. Malaysiakini claimed in a footnote qualifier the earlier reporting was 'an error'."

Malaysiakini's correction read: "We have earlier reported Shahrizat said her family 'deserved' the NRC project. It should be 'her family doesn’t deserved [sic] the opposition attack'. We regret the error."

Malaysiakini, said the blogger in his post today, “is doing exactly what is expected of them; using the Opposition brand of ‘journalism’ to manipulate and lie (whenever possible).”

The news portal’s error “was never an error in the first place,” said Big Dog, who added that he had once been misquoted by the same Malaysiakini reporter, Salhan K Ahmad.

“Where I am at the moment, that lie was intentional,” he said. “Malaysiakini tends to manipulate whenever and where ever they can.”

Salhan K Ahmad could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has continued to accuse Shahrizat and her family of wrongdoing, with PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution saying today that the NFC had paid RM10 million for a condominium unit belonging to the National Meat and Livestocks Corporation, which is owned by Shahrizat's family.

Source: MOLE