(De)Legitimation of Restrictive Abortion in The Star Online and Malaysiakini: A Comparative Critical Discourse Analysis
Abstract
The news media operates not only as a channel of information but also as a persuasive force that shapes and (de)legitimises values, ideologies and social norms. Although Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) has traditionally focused on hard news to uncover media ideologies, the role of soft news in reflecting the perspectives of targeted social groups remains underexamined especially in taboo areas such as restrictive abortion. This study employs Van Leeuwen and Reyes’ legitimation strategies to comparatively analyse soft news articles from The Star Online and Malaysiakini on restrictive abortion in Malaysia. Sixteen articles were analysed to identify (de)legitimation strategies that discursively construct ideological positions. The findings reveal that both The Star Online and Malaysiakini employed overlapping discursive strategies in (de)legitimising restrictive abortion. Despite their differing editorial orientations, both outlets tactically legitimise progressive actors and actions such as reformist groups, reproductive education and compassionate healthcare through appeals to expert authority, rationalisation and altruism. Conversely, they de-legitimise restrictive conservatism and punitive measures often using emotional framing, hypothetical future and moral evaluation. The analysis also identifies two dominant social groups: 1. Social group in support of de-legitimation 2. Social group in support of legitimation exerting discursive power to maintain or challenge the status quo. Challenging the assumption that mainstream media is politically driven while independent media is civic-centric, this study reveals converging rhetorical strategies and ideological overlaps across both outlets, underscoring the media’s mediating role in contested reproductive discourse. It demonstrates that while abortion is increasingly articulated in international discourse as a human right, the global framework remains polarised with significant variation across local contexts at both macro and micro levels.
Keywords: abortion; women’s rights; Critical Discourse Analysis; legitimation strategies; Van Leeuwen; Reyes
Berita di media bukan sahaja berfungsi sebagai saluran maklumat; malah ianya berfungsi sebagai kuasa mempengaruhi yang membentuk serta mengesahkan legitimasi atau menafikan legitimasi nilai, ideologi, dan norma sosial. Walaupun Analisis Wacana Kritis (CDA) secara tradisinya banyak memberi tumpuan kepada berita berat (hard news) untuk menyingkap ideologi media, peranan berita ringan (soft news) dalam mencerminkan perspektif kumpulan sosial sasaran masih kurang dikaji, terutamanya dalam topik sensitif seperti isu sekatan pengguguran kandungan. Kajian ini menggunakan strategi legitimasi Van Leeuwen dan Reyes untuk menganalisis secara perbandingan artikel berita ringan daripada The Star Online dan Malaysiakini mengenai sekatan pengguguran kandungan di Malaysia. Sebanyak enam belas artikel dianalisis bagi mengenal pasti strategi legitimasi dan penafian legitimasi yang membina kedudukan ideologi melalui wacana. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kedua-dua The Star Online dan Malaysiakini menggunakan strategi wacana yang bertindih dalam memberikan atau menafikan legitimasi terhadap sekatan pengguguran kandungan. Walaupun mempunyai orientasi editorial yang berbeza, kedua-dua saluran media tersebut secara taktikal memberikan legitimasi kepada pihak dan tindakan progresif—seperti kumpulan reformis, pendidikan reproduktif, dan penjagaan kesihatan yang berasaskan belas ihsan—melalui rujukan kepada autoriti pakar, rasionalisasi, dan altruisme. Sebaliknya, mereka menafikan legitimasi terhadap konservatisme yang menyekat kebebasan serta langkah-langkah bersifat menghukum, sering kali menggunakan pembingkaian emosi, senario masa depan hipotesis, dan penilaian moral. Analisis ini juga mengenal pasti dua kumpulan sosial yang dominan: 1. Kumpulan sosial yang menyokong penafian legitimasi, dan 2. Kumpulan sosial yang menyokong legitimasi; kedua-duanya menggunakan kuasa wacana untuk mengekalkan atau mencabar status quo. Dengan mencabar anggapan bahawa media arus perdana didorong oleh kepentingan politik manakala media bebas lebih berorientasikan masyarakat sivil, kajian ini mendedahkan penumpuan strategi retorik dan pertindihan ideologi antara kedua-dua saluran media tersebut, sekali gus menyerlahkan peranan media sebagai perantara dalam wacana reproduktif yang penuh dengan perdebatan. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa walaupun pengguguran kandungan semakin diungkapkan dalam wacana antarabangsa sebagai satu hak asasi manusia, kerangka global mengenainya kekal terpolarisasi dengan variasi ketara merentas konteks tempatan pada kedua-dua peringkat makro dan mikro.
Kata Kunci: pengguguran kandungan; hak Wanita; Analisis Wacana Kritis; strategi legitimasi; Van Leeuwen; Reyes
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/gema-2026-2603-04
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