GOVT NEEDS THE MEDIA TO TRANSFORM MALAYSIA, SAYS PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Najib Tun Razak Friday invited
the local media to be his partner in his journey to transform Malaysia into a
more prosperous and peaceful country.

The Prime Minister said the government needed the media to communicate with
the people and educate them throughout the country.

"I would like you to be my partner in my journey to transform the country,"
he said at the inaugural National Press Club-Naza Awards Night here Friday.

Najib said there was a kind of symbiotic relationship between the press and
the government which was absolutely critical to the future and Malaysia's
development as a nation.

"The press needs to report on the government just as the government needs
the press to communicate its message effectively to the people...I need the
press to understand and appreciate the situation in the country, and to
communicate effectively and educate the people," he said.

The prime minister also urged the media not to maintain its status quo by
embarking on different ways to do their reporting.

He said accusations that Malaysia lacked press freedom were grossly unfair.

"As long as the reports do not run afoul of our existing laws, the press is
free to report on pretty much anything.

"Besides, all of us are well aware that in any case, anything and everything
is already written in the alternative media, whether based on fact or entirely
made up of slanderous fiction," he said.

Najib said mainstream media organisations obviously had a higher standard of
accountability and were more mindful of what they reported, being aware of their
standing as respected media establishments.


"But to say that this therefore means that there is no media freedom is
simply incorrect.

"They have been many favourable stories on oppostion figures just as there
have been many negative stories on government personalities," he said.

Najib also commended the effort by NPC to honour members of their own peers
based on the evaluation of an independent panel.

He said the formation of the "oscars" of Malaysian journalism such as what
was being presented tonight, was bound to create great excitement in the media
fraternity and help improve the quality of local journalism.

However, he said this did not mean that the quality of the Malaysian media
was poor.

"I for one believe that the Malaysian media is something that we can all be
proud of," he said.

Najib said it had always been his view that freedom without responsibility
was not freedom at all but chaos.

"I believe the world media can take some lessons from our Malaysian media,
who don't shovel into the private lives of individuals, generally speaking or to
launch themselves on personal vendetta.

"I believe if we are at peace with ourselves today, it is because the
Malaysian media has tempered its coverage of sensitive issues with a huge dose
of social responsibility," he said.

The prime minister said a sense of responsibility and a dose of self
censorship went a long way in preserving the delicate balance of Malaysia's
multiracial, multireligious and multicultural society.

"This is probably what some self-appointed western guardians of the free
press at times fail to understand.

"As we work collectively towards greater unity and cohesion as 1Malaysia, we
must always bear in mind that our collective end goal is a better Malaysia for
our children to inherit," he said

Najib further questioned what was the point of the so-called media freedom
if it meant a free-for-all situation where sensitivities were ignored, feelings
hurt and hatred ignited ultimately leading to disunity and strife which
benefited no one.

-- BERNAMA