"They are scared that the BBC or CNN may call them radicals, so they remain soft instead. The problem lies there, with the Muslim leaders, not the Muslim masses"

Abu Bakar Bashir's quote criticizes certain Muslim leaders for being extremely careful in their public positions due to fear of being identified as radicals by popular worldwide media outlets like the BBC or CNN. His declaration recommends that these leaders focus on preserving a moderate image in the eyes of the Western media over dealing with the authentic issues of their communities.

Bashir implies that the unwillingness of these leaders to take a company stance on problems impacting their neighborhoods results in a disconnect in between them and the wider Muslim people-- the "Muslim masses". He argues that the core issue does not lie with the basic Muslim population, however rather with leaders who are maybe more worried about their international reputation than about authentically representing the interests and beliefs of their constituents.

The underlying review here is that such leaders, by trying to prevent unfavorable media representations, might unintentionally embrace a form of self-censorship or appeasement that dilutes their effectiveness and credibility. This can create disappointment and disenfranchisement amongst the masses who may feel that their real requirements and perspectives are not being sufficiently championed. Bashir's call is for leaders to be more lined up with the priorities of their communities instead of succumbing to external pressures or the fear of being mischaracterized.

By highlighting this dissonance, Bashir is not just critiquing the leaders however likewise explaining a broader problem of representation and advocacy within the Muslim world. This quote underscores the stress between international media stories and the internal dynamics of Muslim societies-- a stress that can result in leaders adopting less confrontational or more diplomatically tasty positions at the cost of resolving more important, and perhaps controversial, concerns facing their communities.