PROMOTING AN ALL-INCLUSIVE 1MALAYSIA MEDIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The inclusiveness of the 1Malaysia concept
should be promoted in the media to be sensitive to the feelings of the various
communities, according to the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) roadmap.

The roadmap launched by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak Thursday stressed the
need to instil journalistic professionalism by taking into account the
divergent background of the country.

"While censorship is anti-ethical to democracy, there is a need to
introduce, instil and internalise a commitment to journalistic professionalism,
a sense of responsibility and self-restraint, with sensitivity to the divergent
views and feelings of the divergent communities in Malaysia," it said.

It noted that there was a concern that some writers abuse the existing
greater freedom of expression by using racist or inflammatory terms,
particularly in the easily trasmitted electronic media, that could provoke
larger segments of the people.

The roadmap said the print and electronic media had thrived in four major
languages -- Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil -- while Kadazan-Dusun
and Iban-Dayak supplements were included in some Bahasa Malaysia and English
newspapers in Sabah and Sarawak, both East Malaysia states.

While the English language press catered to readers of all ethnic
backgrounds, the Malay, Chinese and Tamil publications tend to cater
to their respective ethnic communities, it noted.

This had kept Malaysians of various ethnicities well-informed and was an
advantage to the country.

However, ethno-entric reporting could raise barriers among the races and
affect the promotion of understanding and unity, said the roadmap.

-- BERNAMA