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DPM's Speech: Handle sensitive issues with care

Thursday, 26 July 2007 06:51pm

©The Sun (Used by permission)

Website operators are not above the law, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR (July 26, 2007): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak delivered his speech at the Malaysian Press Awards Night 2007 in Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (July 24), commenting on the media and sensitive issues. This is a translated text from Bahasa Malaysia.

An informed and knowledgeable society is instrumental in ensuring the success of our aspiration for a united nation, as intended by Vision 2020 and the National Mission. In line with this, the media play an important role in garnering support for and shaping public perception on this.

We cannot deny that among the government's main achievements after independence is to shape a multi-racial society that can work together, respect each other and be moderate and accommodating. The power sharing that has been established, which is supported by the media, allows the nation to attain peace and rapid development.

The media should continue to play their role with full responsibility, and be constantly cautious, especially with issues that can affect racial relations and religion, if we want to ensure the success of this national agenda. The media and government are partners in this effort. They should not feel guilty, be ashamed of or pressured for helping the government to make the national interest a success.

A confrontational and very liberal approach, as practised in some countries, will not get us anywhere. What more in a multi-racial society, where differences in religion, culture and customs that are not addressed responsibly by all parties, especially the media, can bring about division and conflict, which will not benefit society.

Debating these issues in the media will not bring about any solution but can cause conflict and tension in society, because there is no easy solution, what more when the media also have their own stand on these issues. As partners, there will of course be differences and disagreements between the government and the media on how each party fulfills its respective responsibility to society, what more if the media also have to look after their commercial and circulation interests.

The media can make criticisms but they should be constructive, objective, fair and based on accurate facts. Constructive criticism will help the government deal with any weaknesses and faults, rectify inefficient systems, increase accountability and improve the administrative system. This is our hope and the government is sensitive to this because we always want the best for the people and nation.

The government appreciates positive input, conveyed in a constructive manner. The media are the watchdog or body monitoring the actions of the government and other influential institutions. With the monitoring, the instruments of government will always be careful that they do not abuse their power or use power arbitrarily.

On the whole, for the past 50 years of independence, the local media have acted responsibly, although it cannot be denied that there were times when, under the excuse of championing certain interests and rights, they have strayed and created an uneasy situation.

We need to acknowledge that the concept of power sharing under the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership is the best formula for Malaysia and needs to be defended if the nation were to continue to succeed. In the past 50 years, the Alliance government, and later the BN, has carried out its responsibility to the people and the result of this is that they get to enjoy good quality of life. This power sharing should be defended because it has proven to be the basis of our success all this while.

The alternative promised by the Opposition whenever there is an election is not workable because of the clear difference in its cause - a party that is driven by one individual's interest and cause will bring about uncertainty to the nation's future. The BN coalition has been proven and tested to bring about change, so that the people can always be confident in it and continue to support it.

Communications technology has changed abruptly how information that shapes news and features is published or how consumers gain access to information; they do not have to depend on traditional sources anymore. The print and broadcast media are no longer the main source of information in the present globalisation era. Websites and blogs are emerging fast and have become the alternative media for information among consumers.

We are concerned with the developments in these alternative media because there are some operators who do not manage their sites responsibly. They run their sites based on personal views and preferences, without considering the interest of the multi-racial society. In the name of freedom, these websites allow slander, lies, insults, the use of harsh and degrading language, and racial slurs, without considering the effect on the readers or people concerned.

This is an unhealthy development and can threaten the unity and peace in society. Although the government is tolerant of anti-government stands and criticisms made in the websites, we are concerned about the statements that insult religion and have racial elements that can cause uneasiness in society.

I would like to remind website operators and writers that they are not above the law. There is a limit, as laid out by the law, to the freedom to express their views. They must be fully responsible for their websites and not take the government's tolerance as a licence to publish anything in the name of freedom of expression, without considering the effect on society. The government is responsible for the wellbeing of society and will not allow any party to disrupt national unity and cause social unrest. Website operators and journalists must be responsible, cautious and attentive because as writers, they should appreciate the people's wish for a peaceful and stable nation.

It (inaccurate/irresponsible writing) also contradicts the high standard of professionalism held by media practitioners and goes against journalistic ethics. The ethics of journalism teaches journalists to report the truth, be objective, accurate and obtain the information from official and valid sources. Journalists must obtain the facts correctly and report in the right and accurate context. Any report and visual or photo should depict what actually happened.

Despite all these developments, journalists continue the effort to transform information into news reports or features. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on training the resources to ensure that the level of professionalism remains high and is raised according to changing scenarios. The media organisations should invest in training their knowledge workers earnestly and continuously, whether on their own or collectively through institutions like the MPI.

The MPI has signed a memorandum of understanding with a renowned journalism institution in the United Kingdom, the Thomson Foundation, to come up with a new programme. I understand that other than continuing to offer the courses that it already has, from next year, the MPI will introduce two new courses, a course on reporting on nationhood issues for young journalists and for foreign journalists. The MPI also plans to hold a programme on international developmental journalism, which aims to introduce Malaysia to foreign media practitioners.

Constant short-term training on various aspects of journalism should be the focus of not just the MPI but also media organisations. As a profession where a bulk of the workforce comprises knowledge workers, the standard of journalism should always be raised.

As in other fields, we would like to see journalists who are not only well educated but also possess broad knowledge in various areas and maturity. I believe this goal can be achieved with continuous professional training.

Journalists should also have strong self-worth based on the nation's fundamental values. They should understand the important national issues in the right perspective if they want to write reports, commentaries, analyses and present constructive views on developments in the country.

To me, an understanding of the fundamental national issues, especially those that are deemed to be sensitive and policies that were agreed upon by the nation's founders when it attained independence in 1957, should be seen from the right perspective, especially the historical context. That's why I've always stressed that as media practitioners, journalists should always understand history and any form of writing, commentary, opinion and analysis that they work on should be based on history.

Those who forget history will usually lose their way and find it difficult to move forward to bigger developments and prosperity. In an extreme case, the nation will become chaotic. Anarchy will be the order of the day.

Malaysian journalists, be they those who represent the mainstream media or new organisations, should always make history a guiding principle when working on various genres - news, features, interviews and others. They should not stray from the truth in their writing.