A Comparative Discourse Analysis of CNN and New Straits Times Online Reporting on the Kartika Sari Dewi Story

1.0 Introduction

The following paper is a comparative analysis of two online newspaper articles on

how they reported on the same story. The newspapers that have been selected are CNN

and the New Straits Times. The aim of analyzing the discourse of these two articles is to

find the underlying ideological relationships and meanings that correlate with the socio-

political backdrops of the two countries the papers belong to.

The subject of the two articles is the story of Kartika Sari Dewi, an Indonesian

Model who was fined RM 5000 and sentenced to 6 lashes because she had consumed

beer at the Legend hotel in Cherating, Malaysia. This incident happened on July 8 th 2008.

She was charged under Section 136 of the Pahang Administration of the Islam Law and

Malay Custom Enactment.

This news event was selected by carefully following news events on different

media websites for a period of 1 month. The reason this particular news event was

selected was due to the ideological nature of the story. The main idea of the article deals

with the religion of Islam and how Islamic power is used in punitive measures. Islam,

which is controversial these days because of its opposition with Western ideals and

politics, was an ideal topic to be analyzed. It is found that the articles differed in the way

they presented the news event purposefully due to power issues relating to this particular

religion. On one hand, Western powers try to reduce the power of Islam in the region

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while here, in Malaysia, a strong Islamic backing could benefit the Malay population in

its battle for supremacy.

2.0 Objectives and Research Questions

The objectives to be achieved are as follows:

1. To find two news articles which reported the same story in different ways.

2. To find different patterns and styles of telling the story.

3. To link the different patterns and styles with the socio-political context of the two

countries.

To achieve the above mentioned objectives, the research questions are as follow:

1. To what extent do the discourses of the two news articles differ?

2. How and why are they different?

3. What social political differences can be identified in the target audience that

correlates with the articles?

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3.0 Significance of the study:

By understanding hidden elements in News and in Media, we can decode events

which are usually reported to the masses with a bias that benefits certain groups. If the

patterns used by particular news papers or media can be found, in the context of their

countries, we can achieve two outcomes. First of all, by reading different versions of the

same news story, we can better understand the truth. Each paper, or news agency, reports

their stories with their own touch. They each have an individual political ideology which

manifests itself in how and what they report. Secondly, after having found such patterns,

we can start to understand the structure of a society. For example, if a certain news

agency, broadcasts news from more leftist point of view, what does that mean and how

would it benefit them? These are some of the questions we seek to answer so that we can

better understand media discourse and media tactics.

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4.0 Literature Review

Media is a word that is mentioned a lot these days; it is something that provides us

with entertainment and information. The question that needs to be answered is whether or

not this information that is provided to us via main stream media; TV, the internet,

newspapers and others has hidden meanings and is a tool for certain groups to provide

certain selected information to the general public.

First of all, what exactly is media? Reich & Solomon (1986) believe that media is

the information, all the experiences, and all the things that we consume and share every

day (p.1). In their words, media is not only one format; it is not only technology that

delivers these things, it is the content, media is virtually anything that we create,

consume, and share in our lives.

According to Becker and Schonbach (1989) the term media is defined as all the

ways human beings use to convey symbols to one another- from language through

various modes of technology such as telefax machines or the TV. They continue their

notion by stating that mass media is then regarded as a specific kind of media. These

technical instruments and tools spread symbols to a potentially unlimited audience - an

audience that, for instance, does not have to gather in one place and at one time.

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Turow (2009) believes mass media circulates words, sounds, and images that

surround us. Too often, we immerse ourselves in media materials without asking where

they come from, what meanings they might have, and what their consequences might be.

The term mass media signifies media which is meant to reach a large audience such as a

nation or state. Furthermore, the term “public media” has a similar meaning: it is the sum

of the public mass distributors of news and entertainment via newspapers, television, and

radio broadcasting.

Mass media includes internet media like blogs, message boards, podcasts,

and video sharing. It is interesting to add these days, with the coming of the internet,

individuals now have greater access to media and news which in the past was only

restricted to a select group of mass media producers. The media audience is viewed as

forming a mass society that is especially susceptible to the influence of modern mass-

media techniques such as advertising and propaganda.

It is difficult to describe the influence of media in a few words; however, looking

at the descriptions from some renowned linguists will be interesting. Some believe that

the influence of media is so great that it can even change human behavior. However,

Boyle (1983) states that “it is not possible to prove, conclusively, that a media text, in

isolation, causes a human being behave in particular way.” (p.26)

Fleur (1984) argues that media can have its effects. He states that the first major

competent of the social system of mass communication is the audience and that audience

is stratified, differentiated, and interrelated in many ways. Thus, this interrelated

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relationship can create patterns of attention, interpretation and response with respect to

content of given type of content.

Turow (2009) says “media effects are real and imaginary, impressive and elusive.

The Media is unmistakably a part of everyday life in our culture. Some estimates suggests

that about one-third of the U.S. population watches TV during the prime time hours,

about one-half of the population, wakes up to radio, some 50 million households receive

newspapers and magazines, and each week, movie theater box offices ring up millions of

dollars in tickets sales . All this participation is itself a “media effect” and is the primer

move behind a great deal of social concern and scientific interest. It is also what makes

the analysis of media effect so very difficult.”

In addition, it is not only media itself that needs to be considered, but also how it

is interpreted. People from different backgrounds would get different ideas and

impression because of elements such as politics and culture.

A good example of such was a project done at Columbia University’s sociology

department in the early 1940s. Turow (2009) states that from that study, a new

contribution on people’s different reactions to media materials emerged. It was the idea

that social relations and interactions among people influence the way individuals interpret

media messages. The basic idea is straightforward: when people watch movies, read

newspapers, listen to the radio, or use any other medium, they often talk with other

people about what they have seen or heard, and this can affect what they think about that

media related experience. To understand how media content affects one person

differently from another, it is crucial to know whom they spoke with about material.

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Based on the above, the most basic question that is frequently asked about mass

media in society is basically who uses it or who is affected by it? How and to what degree

are they affected and why?

For example why do people like such programming as radio soap operas and quiz

shows? The term means that individuals are not just passive receivers of messages.

Instead, they make conscious decisions about what they like, and they have different

reasons for using a particular media more frequently, depending on different social

relationships as well as on individual social and psychological differences.

A great deal of literature explains how people use a variety of media and why. It

is useful to know for example, what percentage of poor families have been connecting to

the internet compared to the percentage of middle—class and wealthy families. The

findings show that there are sharp differences in income between families that are online

at home and those that are not, has sparked discussion of a “digital divide”; a separation

between those who are connected to the future and those who are being left behind.

Until now, we have discussed what is generally meant by the terms media and

mass media. We have also looked at how and to what extent media can be influential on a

society. Now, considering this fact that was previously mentioned, it is clear why media

can be such a good tool for political persuasion and ideology. Media is a tool that is

control from the top. At least most forms of media are now controlled by the elites except

for media forms that exist on the internet such as “youtube”, “facebook” or “twitter”.

These sites are controlled from the bottom and are not as limited or dogmatic as

newspapers or television.

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However, media is undeniably a tool which even today has deep linkages to

politics. Certain groups tend to argue for measure to be taken in relation to media to

promote a political cause. For instance, demands for banning of certain songs or the

labeling of obscene albums which is usually promoted from a more conservative political

point of view.

Media in fact, does have the power to influence the culture industry to move

audience members toward certain ways of looking at the world. In all forms of media, it

is believed by researchers that there are certain messages or certain hidden sociological

power relations that can be found in all aspects of media content, even if typical audience

members do not recognize them. For example, “co-optation” is a well-known term that

the media analyst Marcuse coined to express the way capitalism takes potentially

revolutionary ideas and tames them to express capitalist ideals. For an example of co-

optation, consider how advertisers take expressions of rebellion such as tattoos and

colored hair and turn them into the next money-making fashions or trends.

In psychology, communication theory and sociology, media influence or media

effects refers to the theories about the ways the mass media affect how

their audiences think and behave. Mass media plays a crucial role in forming and

reflecting public opinion, connecting the world to individuals and reproducing and

changing the image of society.

Today, with the media generating information with a network of relations and

influences and with the individual interpretations and evaluations of the information

provided, as well as generating information outside of media contexts. The consequences

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of the mass media relates not only to the way newsworthy events are seen and

understood, but also to a multitude of cultural influences that operate through the media.

The media has a strong social and cultural impact upon society. This is predicated

upon its ability to reach a wide audience with a strong and influential message. McLuhan

(1964) uses the phrase “the medium is the message” to explain how the distribution of a

message can often be more important than content of the message itself.  It is through the

persuasiveness of media such as television, radio and print media that messages reach

their target audiences. These have been influential media as they have been largely

responsible for structuring people's daily lives and routines. Television broadcasting has a

large amount of control over the content society watches and the times in which it is

viewed. This is a distinguishing feature of traditional media which new media has

challenged by changing the participation habits of the public. Furthermore, the internet

creates a space for more diverse political opinions, social and cultural viewpoints and a

heightened level of consumer participation.

After having discussed the literature available in the field of media and media

studies, let us now examine the background information on the two sources of media

which have been selected for this project.

Background Information

CNN (Cable News Network):

CNN is a U.S. cable news network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner, an American

media mogul and Philanthropist. CNN was the first television network to provide 24-hour

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television news coverage, and the first all-news television network in the United States.

CNN is owned by Time Warner, and the U.S. news network is a division of the Turner

Broadcasting System. In terms of regular CNN is rated as being the United States'

number two cable news network and has the most unique viewers. (“CNN”, 2012). This

rating is measured by “Nielsen Cume Ratings” which is an audience measurement system

that was developed by “Nielson Media Research”.

In terms of its political standing and viewpoints, CNN is a main stream media that

promotes the power elite in America; in other words, it is the voice of the white house.

New Straits Times:

The New Straits Times is one of Malaysia’s few English newspapers. It was

founded as “The Straits Times” in 1845, and was reestablished as the “New Straits

Times” in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English language

newspaper at that time. (“News Straits Times”, 2012). Currently, it is owned by Media

Prima Berhad, a company under the influence of Barisan Nasional (BN), one of

Malaysia’s largest political right-wing parties, and is renowned for being a big supporter

of Malaysia nationalism, Islamism and capitalism.

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5.0 Methodology

This study employs the framework of Norman Fairclough, namely Textually-

Oriented Discourse Analysis (TODA). Two articles from CNN and News Straits Times

which report on the event in different ways are chosen for this study. The reason TODA

is selected is with this framework, the analysis can go beyond the boundaries of syntactic

or semantic for of the utterance. It would be interesting to explore the functions of the

text within its utterance and the utterance’s functions within its text.

Textually Orientated Discourse Analysis (TODA)

This framework of discourse analysis was created by Norman Fairclough. TODA

involves three dimensional analysis, which focus on

(1) Text analysis as a point of departure

(2) Analysis of discourse processes of text production, distribution, and consumption

(3) Social analysis of the discursive event in terms of its social conditions and effects on

various levels (situational, institutional, societal).

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And this is exactly what differentiates his framework from others.

This diagram is how Fairclough presents Discourse

In TODA, there are seven elements that need to be taken into consideration. They are:

A. Vocabulary: wording, lexicalization signification

B. Grammar: importance of clauses (declarative, interrogative), active/passive…

C. Cohesion: how clauses are linked

D. Text structure: architecture of texts

E. Force: what type of speech act (promise, request…)

F. Coherence: overall understandability, interpretation

G. Intertextuality: texts being “snatches” of other texts, historical linkage

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6.0 Analysis and Discussion

6.1 Vocabulary

In general, when comparing the two articles, we can see that the article as

reported by CNN is much softer spoken and contains more emotionally charged words

such as:

E.g.: In the CNN headline

Malaysian model, mother to be caned for drinking beer in public

The New Straits Times (NST) headline does not mention the word mother at all.

In fact, the NST article is much more frank and formal. Given the NST’s background,

such frankness would be quite normal and expected even. So, let us analyze the CNN

article and look at how the writer would use emotionally charged words to trigger

reaction to a more westernized audience.

Line 3 (CNN): …if the intent of the Islamic…

Here the writer hints that this whole issue might have a hidden agenda.

Line 6(CNN): “The law is a bit wrong.”

Here the article quotes the father of the model; however, the NST’s article makes no such

statements.

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Line 9(CNN): … at a hotel bar…

Interestingly, CNN refers to the place she was arrested as a “hotel bar” whereas NST

refers to the place as a “hotel night club” (line 21 – NST). The phrase “hotel night club”

has more negative connotations. While “hotel bar” means a place where people can get

together and sit down to have alcoholic drinks, “hotel night club” means a place with a

dance floor for people to dance to music played by a disco jockey, as well as having

alcoholic drinks.

Finally, there are also many words in the CNN article that show how the event is causing

political and social unrest, such as:

Line 7 (CNN): They say they are gentlemen who want to uphold values.

Line 13 (CNN): Malaysia, which considers itself a moderate Muslim country

Line 18 (CNN): Kartika's case has caused an uproar.

Line 18 (CNN): example of growing fundamentalism in the multiracial country.

Line 23 (CNN): "This makes us a laughingstock."

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6.2 Grammar

CNN NST

Line 1 & 2: A Malaysian model, who is set to

become the first woman in the Southeast Asian

country to be caned for drinking alcohol in

public, wants her punishment carried out in

public.

Line 1: Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who

had pleaded guilty at the syariah court in

Kuantan

Line 6: We want to challenge them Line 3 & 4: The 32-year-old part-time model

was initially scheduled to undergo the

sentence at the Kajang Women’s Prison this

week.

Line 6: The law is a little bit wrong Line 6: the caning was postponed following

advice from the syariah chief judge Datuk

Abdul Rahman Yunus.

Line 7: They are gentlemen who want to

uphold values

Line 8: Katrika should be released as the

caning was not suitable to be done during the

fasting month.

Line 22: We want to present a face to the world

that we are not a fundamentalist country

Line 10: Kartika had also been temporarily

released from the warrant of arrest issued for

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her to undergo the sentence

Line 23: This makes us a laughingstock. Line 19 & 20: Kartika was fined RM5,000

and sentenced to six strokes of the rotan at

the syariah High Court here last month after

she pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in

public.

Line 26: It is not about causing pain. It is about

educating others and to teach the person a

lesson

Line 21 & 22: The mother of two committed

the offence at a hotel night club in Cherating

and was arrested during a raid by a Jaip team

at 1.20am on July 12, 2007.

Line 27: The recipient is fully clothed and the

flogger cannot raise his arm high

Line 23 & 24: Kartika paid the fine but

refused to appeal within 14 days as she

claimed that she was ready to face the caning

sentence.

Line 27 & 28: The blows are delivered using a

thin stick, so that they don't break the skin.

Line 25 & 26: Jaip had obtained a warrant to

detain Kartika in Kajang women's prison for

seven days and sent its officials to fetch her

at her father's home in Sungai Siput, Perak

yesterday.

Line 34: Kartika's punishment is unique

because she has opted to go through with it

Line 27: However, Kartika was released

before she could even be brought to the

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prison.

Line 38: I'm not really afraid. I feel relief, Line 30: He also declined to divulge more

details saying that he was merely acting on

instructions.

Line 38: I want to move on Line 34: State syariah chief prosecutor

Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar when contacted

refused to comment on the latest

development.

Line 36 & 37: It was the second time the

syariah court here has imposed whipping on

a female. The first was on a waitress who

was caught on the same night with Kartika.

Line 37: A male was also arrested in the

raid.

Line 38 & 39: The 38-year-old man from

Kemaman, Terengganu, and the 22-year-old

waitress from Selangor were also fined

RM5,000 each and ordered to receive six

strokes of the rotan.

Line 41 & 42: The sentence for consuming

alcohol was made stiffer when the Islamic

Religious Administration and Pahang Malay

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Tradition Enactment 1982 was amended in

1987.

Table 1: Comparative analysis of grammar used in both articles

According to Table 1, CNN uses more present tense or continuous verbs to depict the

situation of the news event while NST uses more past tense verbs in terms of

grammatical usage. This difference in tense usage might relate back to the fact that NST

or the supporters of NST want the Malaysian public to see the event as something which

is beyond discussion, something which has already been decided. In CNN however, the

tense usage depicts something that is a general trend, a more universal look at things.

6.3 Cohesion

The CNN text doesn’t include so many cohesive devices. This may probably be

due to the fact that it and its creators have a fixed stand on the issue. They might not see

the need to compare or contrast. On the other hand, NST uses contrasting conjunctions

such as “however” and “although” a few times. This may be a writing technique were

providing different views on the topic might convey an air of fairness.

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6.4 Text Structure, Force and Cohesion

The two texts present us with the same story but from two different viewpoints

and using two different tones. CNN being an American newspaper would probably tell

the story considering American understanding of Islamic fundamentalism. It seems that

CNN tell the story using more emotionally charged words and tries to tell the target

reader “this is the downside of Islam and living in an Islamic country”. The readers get an

air of sympathy for the woman when the CNN article is read.

In contrast, the NST article is much less emotionally charged. Malaysia is

predominantly run and inhabited by Malays who are mainly Muslim. So, a newspaper

that sees things from that kind of viewpoint would want to tell the story in a more stern

tone of voice, as if to set an example for the rest of the population. It seems that the writer

of the NST article wants the reader to feel “she got what was coming to her”.

6.5 Intertextuality

This particular news event has been in the news for quite some time. There are

plenty of references of this story in other articles by the same papers. The tone and force

employed in them is almost the same. It seems that the two papers represent to different

poles; one is the western ideal whereas the other is the Asian or Islamic one. It is clear

that both papers display a certain amount of bias towards this particular content due to its

religious nature.

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6.6 Discussion

In the beginning we set out to find differences among the two papers and to find

out how and why they are different. The “how” was described in the discourse analysis

segment of this paper and now it is time for the “why”.

Both of these papers are owned by groups which have their own agendas and are

both in search of power. Here the key word which describes the motive behind the

different choice of words and the differences in grammar and cohesion and what not

simply boils down to a want of power.

In both contexts, Malaysian and American, each paper tells the story so the power

will benefit a certain group of people. Who are these people? Most of broadcast media

and most of the print media as well, are owned primarily by wealthy individuals. We

believe that these individuals have ties with other individuals and groups and these ties

directly bias and compromise news coverage.

Political bias in the media is quite common either liberals or conservatives are

pleased or in the case of Malaysia, Muslims or other religions.

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7.0 Conclusion

On a final note, the media has one of the most influential roles to play in society.

All types of media have several varieties and ways to influence and impact the world and

it is society itself that contributes to the media. Newspapers, magazines, television,

music, art, electronics, fashion, religion, sports, et cetera are all types of media that

contribute to our culture and media in society.

Culture describes us in unique expressions throughout certain media. It is defined

as the symbols of expression that individuals, groups, and societies use to make sense of

daily life. As we listen to music and television, in our minds we tend to make connections

and comparisons with other things and try to define the meanings which are related to it.

Culture is a process in which it delivers its values through products for us to

interpret. Mass media is the most controlling industry using several diverse channels of

communication such as movies, the internet, newspapers, novels and books. The world

experiences different eras of time with different types of media controlling all existing

cultures. Times and generations have changed along with media expansion. Obviously,

the media has gradually progressed with time and became a bigger influence within

society.

8.0 Limitation and Recommendation

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Firstly, most limitations in this study stem out of time constraint, therefore this

study only focuses on linguistic analysis using TODA approach. Due to the extensive

amount of data that can be produced with the CDA framework provided by Fairclough,

it has been limited only to the linguistic analysis. It will be interesting to explore other

sections of critical discourse analysis using the same data. These sections can be

discourse historical approach by Wodak or socio-semantic approach by van

Leuween. It will produce an in-depth analysis of the event.

Secondly, the data collected for this study is only from ‘New Straits Times’ and

‘CNN’ due to time constraint. Therefore, the results of this study should not be

generalized as this study on reveals ‘an event’ from the aforementioned news media.

Exploring how other newspapers did the coverage on this event will produce more

comprehensive results. The other newspapers can include right and left-wing newspapers

in Malaysia and foreign countries which have strong or weak ties with Malaysia.

9.0 Reference

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1. Boyle, K (1986). Media and Violence. London: Sage Publications.

2. CNN. (2012). Retrieved November 25, 2012, from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN\

3. Fairclough, Norman (1992). Discourse and Social Change. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Pp.24 - 27.

4. Fleur, M. L. (1984). Mass Media is a Social System. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice-

Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliff.

5. Becker, L. B. & Schoenbach, K. (Eds.). (1989). Audience Responses to Media

Diversification: Coping with Plenty, New Jersey, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum

Associates, Hillsdale.

6. McLuhan, M. & Quentin, F. (1964). The Medium is the Message, San Francisco,

SF: Hardwired, , pp. 8-9, 26-41

7. M. Husairy Othman& M. Hamzah Jamaludin. (2009, August 25). Convicted

model's caning postponed until after Ramadan. New Straits Times. Retrieved

from http://www.nib.com.my/archives/text/view/1691814?

pos=292&hide_header=1&resultset=nstpec%3Awww/cross-search/search.php

%3A_1354840900%3Aresultset

8. New Straits Times. (2012). Retrieved November 25, 2012 from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Straits_Times

9. Reich,B. and Solomon, D. (2008), Media Rules: Mastering Today’s Technology.

New Jersey, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

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10. Saeed Ahmad. (2009, August 20). Malaysian model, mother to be caned for

drinking beer in public. CNN. Retrieved from

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/20/malaysia.caning/index.html

11. Turow, J (2009). Media Today. New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor&Francis

Group.

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10.0 Appendix

Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 02.31 AM

Convicted model's caning postponed until

after Ramadan

M. Husairy Othman and M. Hamzah Jamaludin

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, who had pleaded guilty at the syariah court in Kuantan for

consuming alcohol in public last month, will now undergo her caning sentence after Ramadan.

The 32-year-old part-time model was initially scheduled to undergo the sentence at the Kajang

Women’s Prison this week.

Pahang Religious Affairs (Jaip) committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sahfri Abdul Aziz said the

caning was postponed following advice from the syariah chief judge Datuk Abdul Rahman

Yunus.

The judge said Kartika should be released as the caning was not suitable to be done during the

fasting month.

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Kartika had also been temporarily released from the

warrant of arrest issued for her to undergo the sentence.

"The sentence has not changed and will be carried out

after Ramadan," he said.

He said Jaip would also consult the syariah department on the new date to carry out the sentence.

However, New Straits Times understands that the state syariah appellate court is going to call the

case for revision as this is provided for under the syariah law.

Kartika was fined RM5,000 and sentenced to six strokes of the rotan at the syariah High Court

here last month after she pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in public.

The mother of two committed the offence at a hotel night club in Cherating and was arrested

during a raid by a Jaip team at 1.20am on July 12, 2007.

Kartika paid the fine but refused to appeal within 14 days as she claimed that she was ready to

face the caning sentence.

Jaip had obtained a warrant to detain Kartika in Kajang women's prison for seven days and sent

its officials to fetch her at her father's home in Sungai Siput, Perak yesterday.

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.

However, Kartika was released before she could even be brought to the prison.

Pahang Religious Department enforcement chief Sharafuddin Zainal Ariffin when asked why the

sentence had been postponed, merely said, “The warrant cannot be executed."

He also declined to divulge more details saying that he was merely acting on instructions.

Although she is from Sungai Siput, Kartika became a permanent resident of Singapore after

marrying a Singaporean.

State syariah chief prosecutor Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar when contacted refused to comment on

the latest development.

It was the second time the syariah court here has imposed whipping on a female. The first was on

a waitress who was caught on the same night with Kartika. A male was also arrested in the raid.

The 38-year-old man from Kemaman, Terengganu, and the 22-year-old waitress from Selangor

were also fined RM5,000 each and ordered to receive six strokes of the rotan.

However, the whipping has yet to be carried out as the cases are pending appeal.

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The sentence for consuming alcohol was made stiffer when the Islamic Religious Administration

and Pahang Malay Tradition Enactment 1982 was amended in 1987.

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Malaysian model, mother to be caned for drinking beer in public

(CNN) -- A Malaysian model, who is set to become the first woman in the Southeast Asian

country to be caned for drinking alcohol in public, wants her punishment carried out in

public.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno said Thursday that if the intent of the Islamic, or Shariah, court

that sentenced her was to set an example for other Muslims, then the flogging should take

place in the open.

"Let's be transparent about it," she said.

"We want to challenge them," added Kartika's father, Shukarno Abdul Muttalib. "The law is

a little bit wrong. They say they are gentlemen who want to uphold values. Then the public

should judge how gentlemanly it is."

An Islamic court in the eastern state of Pahang fined Kartika $1,400 (5,000 Malaysian

ringgit) and sentenced her to six strokes with a rattan cane for drinking beer at a hotel bar

two years ago.

Kartika, a 32-year-old part-time model, was visiting Malaysia from Singapore, where she

lives with her husband and two children.

She pleaded guilty and has paid the fine.

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Malaysia, which considers itself a moderate Muslim country, forbids alcohol consumption

by Muslims -- even those who are visiting.

The country has a dual-track justice system, in which Islamic courts operate alongside civil

ones.

The law forbidding alcohol applies only to Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of the

population. The country's Buddhist, Christian or Hindu population can drink freely.

Kartika's case has caused an uproar, with many citing it as another example of growing

fundamentalism in the multiracial country.

In northern Malaysia's Kelantan state, authorities have forbidden Muslim women from

wearing bright lipstick and noisy, high-heeled shoes, saying the ban will safeguard the

morals and dignity of the women, as well as thwart rape.

"We want to present a face to the world that we are not a fundamentalist country," Ashli

Chin, said a resident in Kuala Lumpur. "This makes us a laughingstock."

Mohamad Isa Abd Ralip, president of the Syariah [Shariah] Lawyers' Association of

Malaysia, said too much is being made of Kartika's punishment.

"It is not about causing pain. It is about educating others and to teach the person a lesson,"

he said.

The recipient is fully clothed and the flogger cannot raise his arm high, Mohamad Isa said.

The blows are delivered using a thin stick, so that they don't break the skin.

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Malaysia's civil court does not call for caning for alcohol consumption. It also cannot

overrule a Shariah court sentence.

The civil courts do, however, hand out flogging sentences for serious offenses such as rape.

Neighboring Singapore also metes out caning as punishment. One of the most notable cases

was that of American teenager Michael Fay, who received four strokes for vandalism in

1994.

Kartika's punishment is unique because she has opted to go through with it, which would

make her the first woman to be caned for drinking alcohol in public, Mohamad Isa said.

Two other Malaysians sentenced to the same fate have filed appeals.

Kartika will be taken from her father's house Monday. The caning will be carried out within

seven days after that.

"I'm not really afraid. I feel relief," she said. "I want to move on. This case has been hanging

over me for a long time."

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