Islamic Page And Broadcast Alters China Radio International's Communist Image

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff (This is the second and final part of the two-series article written by the Bernama journalist who attended a recent study tour of China. The programme was organised by the China Foundation for Peace and Development, with the cooperation of Umno.) BEIJING, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The transformation of China Radio International (CRI) is an excellent indication that China’s endeavour to embrace a more affable image is working. It is evident that CRI has completely reversed its strategy – from disseminating communist propaganda, its broadcasts have now taken on a tone of instilling friendship, and fostering regional understanding and cooperation. The Malay version of the radio station’s website, for instance, contains information related to the progress of Islam in China and availability of facilities for the benefit of Muslims visiting the country. The website, which receives more than 24 million hits daily, carries content which includes sections titled “Sinar Islam” which was created in 2006; “Kuiz mengenai etnik minoriti Islam” (Quiz on the ethnic Islamic minority) (2007); “Panduan umat Islam di China” (Guide to the Islamic community in China) (2008); and “Kembara Budaya Muslim China” (The journey of Muslim culture in China) (2011). CRI, which was established in 1941, broadcasts in 65 languages via 100 FM/AM stations throughout the world. It started broadcasting to Malaysia and Southeast Asia in 1959. OPPRESSION OF ISLAMIC COMMUNITY A FALLACY CREATED BY THE WESTERN MEDIA The Head of CRI’s Malay service, Zhang Wenwen, is frustrated that certain Western media is still publishing reports accusing China of oppressing the Islamic community in the country, putting the nation in a bad light in the eyes of the Muslim world. Wenwen, whose Malay name is Awan said CRI has taken on the task to set things right even though it is challenged by the vast domain of the Internet. She is happy that Malaysia is among the countries that have accepted CRI’s transformation, noting that the radio station has forged ties with Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama, as well as with Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the National Library of Malaysia. CRI is also among the agencies in China which actively conducts study tours for foreign journalists. The delegation of 15 Malaysian journalists who visited China recently also held discussions with CRI that mainly focused on the exchange of news and temporary placement of staff at each other’s agency. MALAYSIA NOT JUST A FRIEND BUT MORE LIKE FAMILY Other discussions throughout the study tour concluded with the contention that China, which is already making its mark as a world power to reckon with in terms of economy and military strength, aims to be a “good friend” to the world. China extending its hand of friendship is not something new for Malaysia, which forged bilateral ties with China nearly 40 years ago. Moreover, Malaysia was among the first few nations to establish diplomatic ties with China, a move inaugurated by second prime minister, the late Abdul Razak Hussein, and which even led to the snuffing out of the communist movement in Malaysia. China, which measures 9.6 million square kilometres in size and is the third largest - and most densely populated - country in the world, has over the years persisted with its initiatives to display a more positive image to the nations it deems as friends. Its circle of friends include Malaysia, whose dominant political party Umno has already fostered close ties with the Communist Party of China. The recent study tour organised by the China Foundation for Peace and Development materialised after it was realised that there was a need for closer interaction of the mass media of both countries and stronger people-to-people ties in order to support the over 40 years of friendship between the two nations. China’s ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Huang Huikang, has previously likened China and Malaysia’s solid and strong relationship to the bond shared by family members. He said any dispute that may arise is resolved through peaceful, friendly and diplomatic means. One such dispute likely lies in the Spratly Islands, a group of islands located in the South China Sea, which is claimed by various countries, including Malaysia and China. Foreign analysts have described it as a time bomb set to jeopardise peace in the East Asia region. Malaysia and China’s top leaders have agreed to resolve the issue through peaceful means, including inviting other countries staking a claim on the territories and sandbars there for talks. Disputes aside, the Malaysian journalists who participated in the recent study tour were more keen to find out how Malaysia can capitalise on the opportunities and potential offered by China’s vast domestic market. Besides large corporations which have undertaken mega projects there, small and medium enterprises have also started venturing into China. Various factors have beckoned Malaysia’s entrepreneurs to China and these include cheap local products and the availability of the latest fashion apparel and a ready market in Malaysia, as well as easy accessibility to major cities in China. Speaking of knockdown prices, the writer found himself hunting for bargains while shopping at Silk Road in Beijing, and enjoyed up to 80 percent discounts on some items. A high- quality aircraft cabin bag, for instance, had its price knocked down by 75 percent while a head scarf made of pure China silk was purchased at a 80 percent discount. Little wonder Malaysian traders find themselves heading to China in search of cheap goods which, on average, boast good quality too. In fact, bulk purchases by businessmen often see prices tumbling down even further. Essentially all they have to do is to be smart and bargain hard. Equally important is China’s vast market, which holds immense potential for halal agriculture-based products from Malaysia. According to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, currently there are about 200 various items of Malaysian halal products in China. He added that Malaysia would soon increase the number to 3,000 items. There is good demand for halal products as China’s Muslim population totals 30 million, which is equivalent to Malaysia’s entire population. China’s rapid economic development, particularly in terms of output and export of consumer goods that have reached almost every nook and cranny in the world, should not be viewed as a new form of economic “colonisation”, several China lecturers pointed out to the visiting Malaysian journalists. They contend that their country is able to produce a wide range of attractively-priced goods due to the abundant supply of labour. And, they added, prices are kept low due to mass production and easy procurement of raw materials and workers. They also firmly refuted allegations by human rights activists in the West that China puts pressure on its workforce by paying them low wages and forcing them to work long hours. “It’s not true at all. Hard work has been our tradition… when others work a maximum of eight to 10 hours, we in China have no qualms at all about working for 16 hours,” said Director General of China Foundation for Peace and Development (CFPD), Xu Zhensui, matter of factly. -- BERNAMA