KUALA LUMPUR – Journalists and the media fraternity have a duty not only to report authentic news but also to become guides and initiators of ideas in building the nation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said media practitioners should feel free to share their views and give constructive criticisms to the country’s leadership towards better governance.
He said scholars and journalists should be free to criticise the country’s leadership and have differences of opinion.
“I firmly believe a journalist’s job is not just to report but to initiate ideas for the country,” he said when delivering a speech at the Malaysian Press Night 2023 in conjunction with the MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards 2022 here tonight.
The prime minister also called on media practitioners to play a role as educators to cultivate people’s interest in reading and acquiring knowledge.
Anwar said that without a deep interest in reading, the people would not have a proper understanding of issues happening in the country, including matters of policy and governance.
The prime minister said the challenge of the hour is to re-elevate Malaysia’s capabilities as a democratic country based on the Madani concept, adding democratic freedom can only be elevated through “fresh” discourse driven by journalists.
Also present were Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and his deputy Teo Nie Ching, Malaysia Press Institute chief executive officer Datuk Chamil Wariya and Petronas executive vice president Liza Mustapha. – Bernama, June 9, 2023
