KUALA LUMPUR – Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has referred Awesome TV and its news segment Berita 7:57 to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for further investigation over a report stating that the government would downsize the civil service.
Fahmi today reiterated that the unity government had never discussed the topic or had plans to do so.
“I was made to understand by MCMC that the parties involved have repeatedly produced content that is not in accordance with the established guidelines.
“At this time, MCMC is reviewing and evaluating and will be engaging with them (Awesome TV) soon, so give them a bit of time,’’ he told reporters after an event in his constituency, Lembah Pantai, today.
The minister said MCMC would also decide on possible legal action regarding the matter.
Fahmi said media practitioners must differentiate between “outright slander” and news, and also assured that freedom of speech is protected under the current administration.
“There is a difference between credible news and slander. It is your right to express, and the media is free to conduct their duties…(this is) something that we (the government) uphold, but it does not mean that it gives anyone the right to publish slanderous or untruthful content. There must be a balance from that perspective,” he said.
The Lembah Pantai MP also reminded media practitioners to be cautious against regurgitating slanderous content, warning that doing so could affect racial harmony and violate the nation’s laws.
Fahmi yesterday took to Twitter to deny the claim made by Berita 7:57, urging the news programme to explain its report.
Kerajaan tidak pernah ada sebarang pelan atau perbincangan ke arah itu dan kerajaan sentiasa menghargai kerjasama penjawat awam selama ini.
— Fahmi Fadzil ?? (@fahmi_fadzil) February 17, 2023
Oleh itu, saya meminta @berita757 untuk memberi penjelasan tentang idea dan cadangan mengarut ini.
The report cited an “observer” who claimed that the government planned to trim down the civil service.
A TikTok user had also posted the news clip by Berita 7:57, but subsequently removed it after Fahmi’s comments.
The civil service has been in the news lately, with recent comments by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy suggesting that it is in need of reforms, as it is “dominated” by Malays.
Ramasamy said the public service should reflect Malaysia’s ethnic composition.
In response, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was only Ramasamy’s personal opinion and did not reflect the stance of his party, DAP, or the government. – The Vibes, February 18, 2023
