Najib Warns News Outlets From Publishing News On "Sensitive Issues"
"Nevertheless, reported news and opinions expressed cannot at all touch on sensitive issues that can incite the people, especially to drive them against one another."
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 12 May 2017, 12:24 PM
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has reminded media outlets to ensure that all news published by them must be fair and should not touch on any sensitive issues like race and religion
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak read out PM Najib's speech that spoke about local news reporting ettiquestes at an ASTRO event yesterday, 11 May, according to a report by Bernama that was published yesterday afternoon.
Najib said that news articles should avoid commenting on issues that can disunite people.
"With false information rampantly disseminated with the intention to confuse the people, news reports by the local broadcasters and publishers must be released fast to counter the fake news with the facts."
Najib also took the opportunity to point out the fact the government has never restricted free speech in Malaysia despite the differences in opinion that has occurred over the years.
"Nevertheless, reported news and opinions expressed cannot at all touch on sensitive issues that can incite the people, especially to drive them against one another," said Najib.
The prime minister spoke about how news shapes our perception in the long run and that in turn has the power to influence our decisions and actions
"News is supposed to be a platform for viewers to obtain confirmation on what is happening around them. The information received daily, whether we realise it or not, moulds our mindset or gives us ideas which in turn influences our decisions and actions," explained Najib.
A couple of years ago, Sinar Harian's chief editor, Datuk Abdul Jalil Ali said that press freedom under the governance of PM Najib is better than it was during former PM Tun Dr Mahathir's regime
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who once championed PM Najib Razak's politcal career has moved over to the opposition alliance, criticising Najib's government especially after the 1MDB scandal was exposed.
Image via The Malaysian Insider via Today Online"If you ask me, between the Najib administration and the previous administration, Najib is open and fair as far as the media is concerned."
"Those days during Tun Mahathir, even more stringent," said Abdul Jalil when speaking at the Journalism Now forum that was organised by the Institute of Journalists Malaysia, the Foreign Correspondents Club and the European Union in May 2015.
Meanwhile, Endy Bayuni, the senior editor of the Indonesian English daily Jakarta Post, stressed that journalists and the media should always remain loyal to their readers and put the truth and the greater good of the community above everything else.
"We’re not neutral. We have to take sides. And we have to take sides with people who are being oppressed, discriminated against," said Endy when speaking at the forum.
Do you think media outlets should stop publishing news on issues like race and religion? Let us know in the comment section below.