Is the Sun kinder to MB Perak than NST?

The New Straits Times and the Sun today ran separate interviews with Perak MB, Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, to mark this 100 days in office. Both newspapers devoted ample space to the interview.

The NST accompanied the Q and A with quotes from various people including a former rubber tapper, a legal firm employee, a market stall owner and a handicraft stall owner. This was intended to give a man-in-the-street feel about the MB.

Legal firm employee S Gunaseelan said: "Please be transparent. Tell us your plans.Many promises have been made for our community but very little has been delivered. We need to know what the new government has in store for us."

Handicraft stall operator Zambri Chukarnian said: " BN has ruled Perak for many years and development has stalled for some time. Will the Pakatan Rakyat goernment be better? We voted for them vecause we wanted change. We hope to see the changes soon."

Interviewed by a team of Ipoh-based reporters (Jaspal Singh, P Chandra Sagaran, Brenda Lim and Veena Babulai), the NST carried 12 questions with a half page commentary by M Husairy Othman. It carries the heading 'Rakyat unsure what's going on.'

The heading for the interview carries a heading "Mohamad Nizar upbeat about Perak's future."

Much space is wasted with the mugshots of the layman interviewed. The space could have been filled with more direct Q and A, considering the NST sent four people to do the interview.

The Sun's interview was done by Humayun Kabir and carries 22 questions. The Q and A appear to carry more of Mohamad Nizar's quotes compared to the NST's. This would give readers a better perspective of the questions asked and the MB's answers.

The newspaper also carry a short introduction before the Q and A. It says: "...Mohamad Nizar talks about about getting down to business after a shaky start to transition of power. Prudent spending and reducing red tape are priorities under his administration..."

The Sun also gives a listing of the state Government's report card. Is the Sun kinder to the MB than the NST?