I respect media freedom, but warnings will be given when required: Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR – Media freedom will be respected but those who misrepresent facts and create misunderstanding will be warned, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said. 

He made these remarks following his meeting with top editors of Berita Harian and the management of Media Prima over a post by the Bahasa Malaysia newspaper on Facebook that Fahmi deemed slanderous. 

The post, which Fahmi screen-capped and posted on his Facebook, stated in Bahasa Malaysia that a hike in the overnight policy rate (OPR) is to be expected again in early July.  

In comments beneath the post, which did not attribute expectations of a hike to anyone, Fahmi said it was “slander” as Berita Harian Online’s report on the matter carried the view of analysts, and was not any decision by Bank Negara Malaysia nor by the government. 

He also urged Berita Harian to correct its post and issue an explanation. 

This evening after the breaking of fast, Fahmi said he met with Berita Harian group editor Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman and the senior management of Media Prima, posting a photo of their meeting on Facebook. 

“I respect and will always defend freedom of the media. 

“However, a warning had to be issued if there is a misunderstanding that can lead to slander, for example, when the headline chosen is far from the actual content (of the article),” Fahmi said in his post. 

He said he had no problems with the contents of the report which was based on the views of an analyst. 

“But the Facebook post was very different as it created the impression as if Bank Negara or the government had made a decision (on the OPR). This is not true and is not fair to Bank Negara or the government.”

Fahmi said Berita Harian editors understood his views and had agreed to correct the Facebook post. 

Earlier today, after Fahmi said Berita Harian’s post on the OPR was “slander”, the National Union of Journalists took the minister to task for using such a description, saying it undermined the media organisation and created bad perceptions of the media among the public when the article was only reporting the views of an analyst on the OPR. – The Vibes, March 31, 2023