What a time to be alive! Not only did our badminton mixed doubles team, Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon, make history when they made it through to Malaysia’s first Olympics mixed doubles badminton finals last night, they secured a mixed doubles silver as well, also a first for Malaysia.
This morning, while scores of news outlets praised the duo for their hard work, local tabloids Kosmo and Berita Harian put out “disrespectful” headlines in their respective reports about the historical event, angering many Malaysian netizens.
Kosmo wrote, “Peng Soon-Liu Ying hampakan jutaan rakyat Malaysia” (Translation: Peng Soon-Liu Ying disappointed milllons of Malaysians) while Berita Harian penned, “Beregu campuran sekadar raih perak” (Translation: Mixed doubles ‘only’ won silver).
One netizen known as DeeJay ZaiNey took to Facebook to share his thoughts about the headlines. In his caption, he wrote, “I would like to request Kosmo or the reporter who wrote this article to apologise to all Malaysians. We as Malaysians are proud with Peng Soon and Liu Ying’s achievements in the mixed doubles finals. (This article is) Not ethical at all!! Let’s make this viral. Thank you.”
As at time of writing, his post has been shared over 3,300 times.
Upon reading the headlines, netizens jumped to Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon’s defense, saying that the badminton duo did their best and Kosmo as well as Berita Harian should be proud of their incredible feat.
“Many congratulations to our silver heroes Peng Soon and Liu Ying! They have made all Malaysians proud – well, all except those would print disgraceful headlines such as those in Kosmo and Berita Harian today. Shame on you, whoever the editors are.”
“If Berita Harian and Kosmo writers thinks the Olympics are so easy to win the Gold medal, ask your writer to win it!!! If can’t…don’t simply write & publish!!!”
“Kosmo, berita harian have serious problem if this is true. 4th class mentality.”
“Shame on you Kosmo! and Berita Harian. They have done their best and yet your editor and writer’s unprofessional choice of words made the nation angry.”
Our take? Well, we don’t know what the true intentions of the journalists who wrote the headlines/articles were, but heck, it could just be bad choice of words.
What do you think about Kosmo and Berita Harian’s headlines? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sources: Zairil Khir Johari’s Facebook page, DeeJay ZaiNey’s Facebook page.
