DPM Tells Media to Consider Multi-religious Nature of Society

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Journalists need to take into account the multi-religious and multi-cultural nature of the society before making any unsavoury comments or criticisms, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin (left) said this was because members of the media not only disseminate information to the people but also help them in making decisions. "The media has a social function to perform, that is building national character among Malaysians. Let the information given out unite the people, not split them into groups suspicious of each other," he said at the presentation of the National Eminent Journalist Award 2011 to Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd editor-in-chief A.Kadir Jasin (second from left) here Monday night. Present were Muhyiddin's wife, Norainee Abdul Rahman, Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Joseph Salang, and Malaysia Press Institute chief executive officer Chamil Wariya. Muhyiddin said as members of an influential group, journalists must carry out their task with responsibility to ensure harmony, prosperity and security in the country were maintained and to achieve this, journalists should use their expertise to help develop a prosperous, modern, progressive and united nation. The prime minister said the government will create a conducive climate to allow journalists and the media to play a role in enriching democracy in Malaysia. "Assumptions that the government controls or restricts media freedom is in no way true. Without media freedom how could there be so many opposition newspapers and portals which mostly criticise, twist truths and bash the government by publishing unverified reports?" he said. He said the government was aware that the media needed freedom to report and highlight the public's concerns and views. "They have a role in revising and pointing out government policies which may be against public interest. The government is always open to criticism and reprimands," he said. Press freedom also comes with responsibility to ensure that ethical values were maintained, said Muhyiddin. He said professional journalists need to hold firm to journalism ethics and write based on accurate facts before disseminating information to the public. "If we uphold the principles of journalism, be more professional and credible, journalism as a profession will continue to be highly regarded and respected," he added. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA