When Dr M’s ‘shoot’ became ‘shoo’ – and story on boat people got shot down

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: The biggest news story of 1979 – “shoot on sight” new Vietnamese boat people landing on Malaysian shores – was breaking but the budding journalist responsible was restless.

Rajan Moses told the world about the stinging threat by then deputy prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Malaysia was caught up with one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises.

The story by the rookie journalist of the national news agency, Bernama, shook the globe on June 15. Widespread condemnation erupted.

Moses reported Mahathir threatened new arrivals would be shot; the estimated 75,000 refugees in camps would be put back to sea; and Malaysia was building a fleet of boats to facilitate their expulsion.

Moses’s opening paragraph stated the authorities planned to shoot refugees if they did not stop coming into Malaysian shores.

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