By Terence Lee / Youth Editor
STREAMS OF protests have arisen on the Internet over the perceived biased coverage by the mainstream media on David Widjaja’s death, and not without good reason.
For the past week, the mainstream media has portrayed – intentionally or not — David as a reclusive loner hell-bent on murder. The motivation? His grades had slipped, and his scholarship was revoked. He became a deranged math genius who lost all sense of rationality. That seemed like a pretty neat explanation.
However, things may not be what they seem.
It has been assumed in many news reports carried by the mainstream media that David was the aggressor. The story goes that the professor was stabbed when his back was facing David. After the alleged assault, David then slashed his wrists, walked out the office, and climbed onto a linkway between two buildings before falling to his death.
But where did the source of this story come from? Apparantly, it originated from Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk’s colleagues.The Straits Times’ report by journalist Sujin Thomas on 3 March 2009, which happened to be one of the earliest reports on the incident, recounted the stabbing incident in vivid detail:
Yesterday, the first day of class after a week-long university term break, began ordinarily enough, with Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk, 45, meeting final-year engineering student David Hartanto Widjaja in the don’s campus office.
On the table for discussion: The undergraduate’s Final-Year Project (FYP), the first draft of which was due for submission next Tuesday.
But less than an hour into the meeting, Widjaja, 21, an Indonesian student from Jakarta, suddenly whipped out a knife.
Prof Chan, who had his back to the student and was facing his computer, had no idea what was coming.
Widjaja then began plunging the knife into the professor’s back, the don’s colleagues said.
They added that Prof Chan tried to grab the knife from Widjaja, but ended up with more cuts to his right hand.
While appearing to be concise and accurate, serious questions must be raised about the authenticity of the account. If Prof Chan and David were discussing their FYP in the room together, must we not assume that they were alone as well? Looking at pictures of the office and the corridor outside, it is obvious that every professor has his own office. There is another reason to safely assume that David and Prof Chan were alone: if others were present, the stabbing would most probably not have occured.
This brings me to the next question: where did the “don’s colleagues” get their information from? One likely source would be from Prof Chan himself, as he was staggering out of the office with the knife on his back. Another possibility could be that the colleagues were discussing the likely scenario of what happened — which means everything could be based on pure speculation.
Is mainstream media’s coverage biased?
What is wrong is that this speculation has been allowed to become fact. A cursory survey of mainstream media coverage of the incident reveals the bias that existed in favour of Prof Chan.
Several articles on the ST and Today newspaper portrayed the incident as an “attack”, which automatically incriminates David. An “attack” would imply aggression, which implies that David was the one who made the first move. In today’s Sunday Times, an article explores the link between gaming and aggression. David was an avid fan of World of Warcraft. This is once again an incriminating gesture — why the link when nothing has been proven?
The ST did publish an article about an interview between an Indonesian TV station and David’s family in which his brother pointed out the fact that more than “only one side of the story” has been heard so far. This, however, still does not excuse the newspaper from passing off speculation as fact in the original article by Sujin Thomas.
TOC spoke to Sujin Thomas on 5 March and questioned the credibility of his sources. He did not divulge any details regarding his informants. However, a check with an anonymous source in the newsroom revealed that there was a lot of “speculation” going on within the newsroom, and journalists were basically copying facts from one another for their news reports.
Perhaps pressure to deliver accurate information to the masses in such a short span of time has led to this misportrayal of David’s death. However, this brings into question the editorial judgment of editors in the mainstream media. While there are some instances of unbiased reporting, such as the article by Zul Othman on the 3 March edition of Today, standards are inconsistent at best, and can be improved.
In an earlier TOC report, I spoke to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and they said that investigations are still ongoing and no conclusion has been made about the alleged assault on Prof Chan. Hopefully, the SPF will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding David’s death. Likewise, the media should not be jumping to conclusions regarding his demise – no matter how straightforward it may seem or how obvious it may appear to be.
Even in the initial stages of reporting on David Widjaja, TOC made the same mistake of assuming he was the guilty party. It is easy, in the heat of reporting on a controversy, to treat speculation as fact. However, after realising our bias, we made the necessary changes to the tone of our article to reflect an objective stance. We now urge the mainstream media to do the same.
Like in a court case — a party should be innocent until proven guilty.
His elder brother, in the interview with the Indonesian TV station, expressed it very well: “‘It was just both of them in the room, and now my brother is dead. We want this to be properly investigated.”
Conspiracy theories or fact? Some blog posts that cast doubt on David’s guilt
1) http://justlimz.blogspot.com/2009/03/david-case-high-profile-crime-not.html
2) http://manusialempung.blogspot.com/2009/03/truth-behind-david-widjajas-incident.html
3) http://leapon.net/en/curious-case-david-widjaja
4) http://bitterecstasy.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/ntu-stabbing-case-another-side-of-the-story/
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
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I support TOC’s effort to publish true and unbiased information. I agree that mainstream media could be biased. Today, sunday times reports that playing WOW creates violent tendency. Was this a follow up to self justify their reports on David?
Facts:
1. Assoc Prof claimed to have been stabbed in the back, but his injury seems not too serious because he was discharged almost immediately after a minor operation.
2. Assoc Prof is alive.
3.David is dead – a dead person tells no tales – lies or truth.
4. David’s throat was slit.
5. Blood flowed heavily down the staircase.
6. Alleged attack was in the top floor.
7. David fell from the 4th floor.
8. Another person from China is also dead now – whether it is suicide or not, we do not really know. But could he be a witness to David’s death?
Questions:
1. Why did the police remove the evidence from the scene of crime so early? Has the police investigation already come to a final conclusion? If so, why there is no release of any statements from the police?
2. Why is NTU staff so earger to silence their students from discussing the death of David?
3. Why did the local newspapers come to a conclusion that it was David who was the aggressor?
4. Couldn’t David also be the victim of a murder, instead of the alleged murderer?
you got to be kidding me. this is some sort of insinuation that the prof had something to do with his death? why on earth would an established prof in a reputable uni jeopardize his life and career for the sake of a NOBODY? this is just sensationalist journalism, if you ask me. much like what the newspapers were trying to do in the first place, to have a culprit in the case from the get-go. obviously, it not only makes sense to name him as the aggressor from the start, it sounds a lot better in print as well. why gild the lily, no? one thing’s for sure: forensic evidence will definitely turn up proving that widjaja was the aggressor with fingerprints all over the knife, and excuse me for saying this, but if i was an ntu prof, and a student comes in with a freakin knife and stabs me, i’d pretty much have to say he was an aggressor alright, no two ways about it.
anyway, the world of warcraft thing was to establish the premise that he was increasingly neglecting his studies and spending way too much time on his gaming life (six hours a day, no less). it wasn’t to put another dent on his personality, it was an estimate given by his friend(s). D’oh. nothing wrong with reporting what was interviewed right.. ST online said he “plunged into it with a vengeance” or sth like that. i think 6 hours a day qualifies as “with a vengeance”.
oh and 5th paragraph, you spelt “apparently” as “apparantly”.
cheers. ;0
The Police and then the coroner must come out with the facts and conclusion respectively, and not let the don’s fellow lecturers be the source of the details and published with no authoritative references.
The fact so far is that a student is dead and a teacher is injured – and all other information are hearsay.
Now the rumour mill from Indonesia is that the dead student and his injured teacher are in some form of relationship! This is ridiculous and getting out of hand.
NTU owes it to the world to present the findings sanctioned by the right authorities; the police will have to invetigate to get the facts and the coroner must be the independent party to make the conclusions.
The sooner it be done the better it is for the reputation of Singapore and there can be closure to the Widjaja’s family ,otherwise the Indonesian presses and then the independent wire services will start to raise more questions, and the Widjaja’s family members being in Jakarta will have a field day to inject more and more into the speculations.
For the sake and reputation of NTU, strongly urge the authorities to step in immedately and make public its fact findings and conclusion.
valid points u raise, but one impt question: what was he even doing with a knife in the first place?
maybe it was WoW.
valid points u raise, but one question though: what was he doing with a knife in the first place?
I’d venture to say it was for stabbing purposes.
Hey ali,
How do we know the knife belongs to David? I’m not really sure, but is there an article anywhere that makes any reference about who the knife belongs to? Can you point it out to me? Thanks for your feedback :-)
Similar for the slipper’s man opposition member. He is not involved in any of the murder case happened to one of his family members but the way msm reported have never failed to throw him into the limelight like he was a murderer and a guilty man.. The sub standard of our local media reporting is “outrageous”.
—–Original Message—–
From: President
Sent: Mon 3/2/2009 4:53 PM
To: All NIE Staff (NIE); All NTU Faculty & Staff; studentlist
Subject:
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students of NTU,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragic incident on campus. A final year student from the electrical and electronic engineering school attacked a professor this morning, 2 March 2009…
After reading your article, i realised that even the ntu president committed the same fallacy. Thanks.
yes, i think that he david really wanna commit suicide, why would he jump to the bridge first den jump down?
Really good article on what might have really happened. The world needs to know this. The media cannot hide the truth.
Please join the group in the fight. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60511386267
You guys received the news on the death of a post graduate of the same school, EEE, in NTU on Friday night right?
Some eerie coincidence:
1) Both victims are from the same school – Electrical and Electronic Engineering
2) Both victims work in the same lab.
3) The first day of work of the second victim was the day of death of the first victim
4) Professor was released the day when the second victim took his life
And here are some postulations: if it’s your first day of work, you will most probably arrive at the conclusion that he must have arrived early to work. Coincidentally, on early Monday morning the professor was meeting up with David for his project. He might have saw something?
You see the link there, right?
Scary.
Unexplained forces at work, Hastings?
#10 ntustudent,
Please do not blame your president, for he too depends on others for information, and his memo was drafted by others.
Meanwhile the world awaits the truth…….to such catch phases like ” his throat has been slit and…….. plastered”…. ” his wrists had not been cut “…….” he stabbed his professor”……”he jumped”…..
The truth will set everyone free. Here is your chance NTU to set the records straight once and for all to hear…….
Dear Do Not Blame,
You can wait all you want. All you will get is another fulffy cake of lies. The way I look at it, both David and Chan got what was coming for them. Although Chan escaped with his life. Neither party will be faultless. It’s how all tragedies unfold.
Oh and btw, just in case any one of you thinks that this case should be analyzed with some fancy principle or theory based on tales spun by morality, think again. The way I see it, it’s about survival. And when push comes to shove, reason and logic are amongst the first mental thinking faculties to be thrown out the window.
The survivor remains the strongest for now, until the next fateful day when he is in turn mauled by his next nemesis. And it could be his predator, his same species or even his prey.
no body will know untill info is accessible.
Period.
To KGB: Reading your sentences, I feel like you are in a jungle. And to think that we are talking about Singapore, the should-be-one-of-the-safest-country-in-the-world, not Indonesia.
@yan
is there any cctv in NTU? and Zhou Zheng is dead also. Two deaths from the same lab within a week.. safe for what? NTU’s prestige and honor?
Reminds me of the (offline) game Cluedo.
My concern is why the body was cremated so early. If investigations are still pending, the best evidence is a post-mortem autopsy. Although it is very stressful and hard on the parents, its the best bet for finding out the truth as to how the boy died.
Without it, many claims are mere speculations… and many questions will remain unanswered…
Was there really a slash on the wrist? Or did they see wrongly? Did those who claimed there was no slash wound see wrongly either? Was there a lot of blood? If there were, can people actually see with clarity slash wounds on either the neck or the wrist?
Did he die from the fall, or did he die from blood loss? Did he fall because of faintness due to heavy loss of blood? Or was there insignificant blood loss and he really did jump?
Did the police report accurately? Did they wipe off the blood stains to check whether there was a wound? Did the parents and family check accurately too?
Why was the body cremated so early? Was there evidence to be destroyed? Why wouldn’t the parents want an autopsy? Did they not want to find out how their son died? Granted that it is an emotional turmoil to go through autopsy, why the cremation so soon?
So many questions, where are the answers? All in the ashes… hopefully enough forensic evidence can be gathered from the remnants in the room… the knife, blood, clothes… till then, i don’t think speculation is going to help anyone… whether or not the fault lies with NTU or the student.
LET US TOGETHER FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IN SINGAPORE
If you see any suspicious person or articles, please call 999 or report here:
http://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/ePCLinks.html
I am convinced that David committed suicide. but the circumstances leading to this act is not clear. Although this act spinned forth a credible story that implicates him as the guy who assaulted the Professor the exact truth remains to be established and it is up to the law in singapore to examine this carefully.
I’m a student from China and I’ve read about Zhou Zheng death article on internet / newspaper. This cases being a big cases, where’s 2 students death without any clue and good information thou. If the NTU or Singapore Police / Media can’t handle this cases for the truth, We will report and asking it into our China Goverment & Embassy and I wish they’ll investigating this cases soon, The china people were believe.. there’s something wrong with Prof. Chan.. and as a murder. 2 students were death in 1 week (what the hell?), that was a terrible thing. and I hope for Indonesian Government & Embassy willing to help investigating this case too (about David Hartanto death). and for Singapore Media, you’re shame.. thank you.
Ethan Liu.
Wah, Ethan Liu, using your China authorities to pressure us eh?
Feel free to report then.
#21 Dounai – the reason why the body was cremated that soon is because
according to Buddhist custom, if someone died from unnatural death it is strongly recommended to cremate the body asap to lessen the burden of the deceased in the afterlife. So, I guess the parents must have been thinking in the best interest of their son, they did not want their son to further suffer even after his tragic death.
And he must be made to reveal the whole incident.
Prof Chan …you are the only person who knows it all …you better do something about the truth. If not, davids soul will not rest in peace.
@Oranger : david was a christian, not a buddhist.
To Tanya: Oranger is right, David is a Buddhist.
wow ethan..strong words, though i had some problems understanding your english.
how about the interpol?
but mind you, the current Head of Interpol is Singapore Police Force’s Commissioner, Khoo Boon Hui.
http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2008/PR200855.asp
CID police must investigate journalist Sujin Thomas from Straits Times to find out the who is the source of his report on 3 March 2009.
Dany Poh: I agree with u that further investigations must be made regarding Sujin’s source of news. Credibility of Singapore media is under threat at the moment & someone must put in back on track.
is the police force doing any investigations yet on the prof?
Just want to put another missing piece of puzzle..
David’s FYP, the multi angle camera, is prof’s patent.
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=1991019265
Check this out.. That could also reason behind NTU wiping David’s FYP so quickly.
surprised that this investigation is taking so long, right?
After Singapore broke the CDA (Cooperative Defense Agreement) with Indonesia, it concerns very much on Indonesia’s attempt to retrieve their money which stolen by corruptors that hide and resides in Singapore. Any possible extradition oportunity of any case involving the Indonesian authority to further investigate criminal events in Singapore even if it involves Indonesian citizen will be avoided. One person live is expendable compared the money wich will be taken back to Indonesia if the corruptors were able to be caught in Singapore. David is a loss cause the Singapore government sacrifice him for a greater good. Nation economics stability. – This is just a conspiracy theory but its far more reliable that those predicaments you guys create on those postings -
Blue cheese is an acquired taste for asians.
Conspiracy theory loams everywhere…and can also be acquired taste for all….
It is really good bye to david and mas , too if you link up the conspired random thoughts…
both may had to be sacrificed..
this is indeed story lines for movies…
V for Vendatta….
Any takers here ? Film makers? in view of latest amendments passed……
Well everyone, despite whatever the fact was… lets not take it as OPINION WAR between Singaporean, PRC and Indonesian. Lets be objective and not subjective… This is not a war between 3 countries. This is about everybody common journey of finding truth, everybody that care about truth behind the alleged facts. True that there are many questionable facts behind David death. Professor up till date (from what I understand) hasn’t come up and clarify about the incident.
For PRC and Indonesian: I understand that you are angry with the investigation that going nowhere but don’t because of 1 person then you hit the whole Sporean, I don’t think it’s fair. Bear in mind that this case unfortunately happened in Spore and it is only right for them to do the investigation and whatever facts they are giving out later, its up to their conscious. Everybody we’ll just have to bitterly or happily accept it.
For Singaporean: It’s time for you to be a little bit humble, I have to say that most of Sporean always look down on Asian Foreigner n be so freaking respect to caucasian… But bear in mind, without these people (Asian Foreigner) in Singapore, You have soon experience economic crisis greater than what USA is facing now. How many foreigner own condo in Spore District 9, 10 n 11? Freaking 60% – 70%! Without those Indian and PRC workers in Singapore, could Singapore development hit such a high sky price?
Having said all the nonsense above, Whether you like it or not… This case is Freaking Damn Suspicious!!! Leave with it and swallow it…
Well, I feel sorry for this incident, but to compare with Junko Furuta (1995). At least he didnt suffer much.
To Prof Chan.
Like what they said, “It hurts to admit when you make a mistake – But when they’re big enough, the pain only last a second.”
BTW Really Final Words its Vendetta.
Just a couple of things:
Lets not bash the singapore mainstream media for everything. It is understandable that friend and family of david are shocked and in disbelief. But giving rise to further speculation doesnt amount to any goodness. It just deepens the plot and leads to controversy, especially when speculations arise from a lack of utter knowledge.
If David didnt stab the professor in the back, who did? The prof himself? Could he possibly have reached over backwards, stabbed himself and then collapsed on the floor? I think not. lets not be ridiculous. Could someone else have pushed David off the roof? Maybe he possessed by the spirit of EEE. I think not.
Let justice take its course. In the end it does not reverse what happened.