ID :
60363
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 13:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60363
The shortlink copeid
LOCAL BROADCASTERS URGED TO BE CONSIDERATE WHEN AIRING SENSITIVE ISSUES
KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Information, Communications and Culture
Minister Dr Rais Yatim urged local broadcasters Tuesday to be more considerate
when airing sensitive issues as they may jeopardise harmony in the country.
"We don't want the society to form perception based on incorrect
information. Things which are repeated often, especially through the broadcast
medium, will shape the perception among the society.
"It is for this reason that broadcasting stations should ensure that their
content would not jeopardise the political situation and harmony in the
country," he said during a luncheon with chief executive officers of private
broadcasting stations here Tuesday.
Dr Rais described the meeting as the ministry's early step to convey the
government's hope that broadcasting stations would help realise the 1Malaysia
concept mooted by Prime Minister Najib Razak when he took over the country's
leadership.
The minister hoped that private and public as well as paid and free-to-air
broadcasting stations would support the government's 1Malaysia concept by
airing programmes which promote positive values in the efforts to build a nation
state.
"Building a nation state is important for a country which has a multi-racial
and multi-religious populace like Malaysia. The ability to build a nation state
depends on the sharing of positive values and patriotism among the people.
"This is even more crucial in the globalisation era where there is a free
and speedy flow of not only information, capital and human but also value
system, culture and belief between countries.
"Whether we like it or not, we, as the people of Malaysia, should accept and
embrace pluralism that exists in this country. This is 1Malysia's core concept,
which is to accept this reality and strive to make it a platform to achieve
success as a Malaysian race," he said.
Dr Rais said the government hoped that broadcasters would work with the
government so that the message could be conveyed to the people.
He also said that the power of information in moulding the society should be
acknowledged.
"Studies have shown that TV is still the influential communication tool
compared to other media in Malaysia. The broadcast content is no longer confined
to entertainment alone but it has become a medium for the government to convey
information to the masses.
Dr Rais said it was the government's wish to turn the country into a
developed nation, with the people having the freedom and access to all kinds of
information.
However, he said, there should be a limit to the freedom.
Unrestrained freedom and freedom without responsibility would create a
society that was unstable in its thinking and not sensitive to nationhood
issues, he added.
"The government, as the entity responsible for creating a nation state
should have control over the media channel that links directly to the people so
that it can mould the society, and at the same time allow the people the freedom
to choose their preferred information and entertainment channel," he said.
He hoped that TV and radio stations would share the government's aspiration
increating a society that has high integrity, knowledgeable, possess strong
character and appreciative of the freedom given to them.
Dr Rais said with technological changes and convergence in the
communications sector, the broadcast media would be an important platform for
the government to educate the people to become developed and generate a
knowledge-based economy.
"Entertainment is definitely an effective way to attract viewers and
listeners. However, we must balance this with the responsibility to educate the
society and help the government attain Vision 2020.
"We don't want the people to be absorbed in the dreams and fantasies of the
entertainment world without getting any knowledge or information.
"Broadcasting stations need to give attention to elements of knowledge,
entrepreneurship, innovation as well as positive values," he said.
Dr Rais said the country was currently facing numerous moral and civic
issues affecting public safety, such as the Mat Rempit (illegal motorcycle
racers) phenomenon, snatch theft and other types of crime.
He said educating the people was not the sole responsibility of the
government or the Education Ministry but also that of the members of the
society, including broadcasters which had a large number of viewers and
listeners.
Dr Rais reminded the broadcast sector to allow more space for public service
announcements and be generous when doing so.
-- BERNAMA
Minister Dr Rais Yatim urged local broadcasters Tuesday to be more considerate
when airing sensitive issues as they may jeopardise harmony in the country.
"We don't want the society to form perception based on incorrect
information. Things which are repeated often, especially through the broadcast
medium, will shape the perception among the society.
"It is for this reason that broadcasting stations should ensure that their
content would not jeopardise the political situation and harmony in the
country," he said during a luncheon with chief executive officers of private
broadcasting stations here Tuesday.
Dr Rais described the meeting as the ministry's early step to convey the
government's hope that broadcasting stations would help realise the 1Malaysia
concept mooted by Prime Minister Najib Razak when he took over the country's
leadership.
The minister hoped that private and public as well as paid and free-to-air
broadcasting stations would support the government's 1Malaysia concept by
airing programmes which promote positive values in the efforts to build a nation
state.
"Building a nation state is important for a country which has a multi-racial
and multi-religious populace like Malaysia. The ability to build a nation state
depends on the sharing of positive values and patriotism among the people.
"This is even more crucial in the globalisation era where there is a free
and speedy flow of not only information, capital and human but also value
system, culture and belief between countries.
"Whether we like it or not, we, as the people of Malaysia, should accept and
embrace pluralism that exists in this country. This is 1Malysia's core concept,
which is to accept this reality and strive to make it a platform to achieve
success as a Malaysian race," he said.
Dr Rais said the government hoped that broadcasters would work with the
government so that the message could be conveyed to the people.
He also said that the power of information in moulding the society should be
acknowledged.
"Studies have shown that TV is still the influential communication tool
compared to other media in Malaysia. The broadcast content is no longer confined
to entertainment alone but it has become a medium for the government to convey
information to the masses.
Dr Rais said it was the government's wish to turn the country into a
developed nation, with the people having the freedom and access to all kinds of
information.
However, he said, there should be a limit to the freedom.
Unrestrained freedom and freedom without responsibility would create a
society that was unstable in its thinking and not sensitive to nationhood
issues, he added.
"The government, as the entity responsible for creating a nation state
should have control over the media channel that links directly to the people so
that it can mould the society, and at the same time allow the people the freedom
to choose their preferred information and entertainment channel," he said.
He hoped that TV and radio stations would share the government's aspiration
increating a society that has high integrity, knowledgeable, possess strong
character and appreciative of the freedom given to them.
Dr Rais said with technological changes and convergence in the
communications sector, the broadcast media would be an important platform for
the government to educate the people to become developed and generate a
knowledge-based economy.
"Entertainment is definitely an effective way to attract viewers and
listeners. However, we must balance this with the responsibility to educate the
society and help the government attain Vision 2020.
"We don't want the people to be absorbed in the dreams and fantasies of the
entertainment world without getting any knowledge or information.
"Broadcasting stations need to give attention to elements of knowledge,
entrepreneurship, innovation as well as positive values," he said.
Dr Rais said the country was currently facing numerous moral and civic
issues affecting public safety, such as the Mat Rempit (illegal motorcycle
racers) phenomenon, snatch theft and other types of crime.
He said educating the people was not the sole responsibility of the
government or the Education Ministry but also that of the members of the
society, including broadcasters which had a large number of viewers and
listeners.
Dr Rais reminded the broadcast sector to allow more space for public service
announcements and be generous when doing so.
-- BERNAMA
