Deja vu as news of downed plane breaks

IT WAS déjà vu for many Malaysian journalists who were rudely awakened from their sleep to be informed by editors or fellow newsman that MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday night.
Even as we walked through the automated sliding doors of Sama-Sama Hotel, there was this uneasy feeling of familiarity as we have been here before just four months ago, sitting in the same area while we separated the wheat from the chaff in the latest news of MH370.
The same can be said about the atmosphere in the briefing room, where Malaysian officials gave the first announcement on both tragedies and where most subsequent press conferences were held.
Unfortunately, the darker side of journalism also came back to haunt Malaysia with a vengeance as correspondents, mostly from foreign press with a few from local media, attempted to have Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai pin the loss of 298 innocent lives on Malaysia Airlines (MAS).
Instead of exploiting limited opportunities to ask substantial questions that could possibly shine a light on how MH17 got blown out of the sky for no apparent reason, they simply asked “Why did MAS take that route?”
The reporters repeated the question over and over again like a broken record and the same answer was given by Liow each time, that the flight path is considered safe by international civil aviation authorities and there were no information to indicate otherwise prior the tragedy.
They attempted to bait Liow and other Malaysian officials yet again the next day, even when it is evident that MAS is far from alone in believing that the path is safe to be used by asking leading questions that could only have one conceivable answer, that MAS is responsible for the tragedy.
As newsmen ourselves, we must question why any respectable journalist would home in on the few airlines that have abandoned the route instead of accepting that most airlines had no issues with that path and were, in fact, flying over the same area just hours before.
The total disregard of factual information in an attempt to sensationalise a tragedy of the highest magnitude and apportion blame on an innocent party is unethical at best and despicable at worst.
Liow and his entourage must be commended for refusing to bite on what is clearly an attempt to provoke a sensational response from Malaysian authorities, all in the name of getting the most salacious headlines to plaster across the front pages of their respective news organization.
One may recall that the local media was criticised by “top journalists” in Malaysia for being rather tame during the MH370 crisis when compared to foreign correspondents, who appear to be much more aggressive in their line of questioning.
While it cannot be denied that there is some truth in the statement above, one must also point out that some of the most substantial questions were asked by the local media while foreign correspondents have at times wasted opportunities to ask already answered questions, seeming like they were not paying attention, or irrelevant ones.
This time around, one can safely say local journalists outperformed foreign reporters, who possibly wanted to make a name for themselves by asking what they thought to be tough questions when they obviously have little knowledge about the topic at hand.
As newsmen, we have the responsibility to convey the truth in all its unadulterated glory to the masses regardless of our personal opinions on the matter, even if we are all shocked by the unspeakable loss of 298 lives and are looking for someone, anyone, to blame.
But blaming MAS for the tragedy would be tantamount to accusing a woman for being raped.