I agree with your reading of 'face' and, certainly, I've seen it in Asia as well as the GCC where (for my sins against the God of Expats for which I'm seeking absolution) I find myself currently residing. But could it also be logically argued that Nila was a little niave?
Geordie | "February 28, 2007, 1:18 pm" | #

Knowing Malaysians, particularly Malaysian bureaucrats, I would say its not just a matter of face but arrogance and the feeling that the whole world owes them a living.
Unspun | Homepage | "February 28, 2007, 4:36 pm" | #

Sorry,am not usually up to speed with the debate, but I recall the touble our PM was in when he called the Malaysian leader 'recalcitrant'
julia | Homepage | "March 1, 2007, 8:13 am" | #

it's really good that more and more people dare to take risks of writing something that reveals their values and personalities.

the courage to be "naked" is sometimes quite amazing.
aroengbinang | Homepage | "March 1, 2007, 1:30 pm" | #

As a proud Malaysia, I say: "What's new?"

I'm sorry we have people who likes to complicate things because 1) They are lazy. 2) They don't have system. (They are the system.) 3) They are hired to have breakfast at 8am, 10am, lunch at 12:3 pm0, 2pm, hi-tea at 3pm, and they may go home at 4:15pm... anything beyond that is hassle. 4) They don't give a flying f*&k about what's happening in the world as long as they get their pension at the end of the day. 5) Service? What service?

That's how Malaysia Goverment work and we are pround of it! Malaysia boleh!!!

Yea right...
Moonfish | "March 2, 2007, 9:44 am" | #

Hi, I love the blog that you have. I was wondering if you would link my blog to yours and in return I would do the same for your blog. If you want to, my site name is American Legends and the URL is:

www.americanlegends.info

If you want to do this just go to my blog and in one of the comments just write your blog name and the URL and I will add it to my site.

Thanks,
David
David | Homepage | "March 2, 2007, 11:56 am" | #

Thanks for your comments one and all, except ...

... David, sorry but I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in American sport and I doubt that my regular readers do either.

You're welcome to add Jakartass to your blogroll but I doubt very much that your readers would be interested in a British football fan, living in Jakarta, who debunks pomposity, tackles corruption and supports the 'little' people whenever and wherever (but mainly here in Indonesia) they are sat upon by folk who think they're better than us.
Jakartass | Homepage | "March 2, 2007, 8:01 pm" | #

" Occasionally we assume an 'importance' beyond our original intentions. Our opinions provoke reactions. Take the case of Nila Tanzil who lost her job as a presenter of a travel programme on Indonesia's SCTV because the Malaysian Tourist Board was upset by what she said about their "disappointing" treatment of her visiting crew".

Tulisan diatas salah besar, Nila hanya seorang freelancer presenter, dan bukan journalist, tugasnya hanya bicara didepan camera dengan script yang dibuat oleh produser, buruk atau baiknya hasil covering, bukan reponsibility Nila, dan dia orang baru didunia televisi, membuat story untuk durasi 1 menit pun dia tak bisa.
Dia shock dan terkejut melihat rintangan yang dialami jurnalist, padahal untuk produser dan cameraman halangan yang berlaku kemarin di Malaysia, adalah problem kecil.
Jadi hendaklah jangan diperbesar masalah ini, dan Mentri Pelancongan telah berbuat bodoh.
Fatimah | "March 14, 2007, 8:10 pm" | #