TURNING TABLES ON MEDIA PRACTITIONERS
Zahid asks them questions on issues faced by media and printing industry
HE is usually bombarded with questions from the media, but Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday turned the tables on media practitioners.
In the two-hour luncheon with chief editors and publications permit holders, Zahid asked 10 questions to media outlets’ representatives on challenges faced by the media and publication industry, as well as the need to review the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
“Usually, I am the one who answers questions from the press. But today, I will throw all the questions to media practitioners.
“This is one of the approaches to get media practitioners’ opinions on how we can address issues and challenges faced by the media and publication industry, in view of the rise of the Internet.”
Zahid, who is also home minister, said it was the first time the ministry had such an engagement session with the media.
Present was Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
The event was attended by 500 local media and publication players. Present were New Straits Times Press chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Jalil Hamid, NSTP editor-in-chief Datuk Yushaimi Yahaya, Star Media Group Bhd managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd group chief editor Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang.
In his first question, Zahid asked Jalil’s opinion on the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers’ call to form a media council to allow greater self-regulation in the news industry.
Jalil said it was high time to look into the proposal to regulate local media agencies.
“As the Malaysian Newspaper Publishers Association chairman, there is a need to study the suggestion to have a self-regulatory body for media, like the press council in the United Kingdom and Australia.
“We have discussed this two years ago with then attorneygeneral Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, but it did not materialise due to several factors,” he said.
Zahid said the Home Ministry would gather media practitioners’ views and opinions to identify the suitability and relevancy of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
He said this was necessary as the traditional media was almost taken over by the alternative media.
Zahid said the government wanted to know what it could do to improve guidelines, and empower the media and printing industry.
“After the election, we will discuss the pros and cons of the act before it is amended,” he said, before launching the #mediacouncil to allow media practitioners as well as publication and printing industry players to share their ideas to strengthen the industry.
He said the government understood the challenges faced by traditional media and printing publications, such as low readership, viewership and circulation, due to the use of Internet.
“Some people think that most traditional media today are biased towards the government, and regarded the news as having no credibility.
“So, many readers and viewers rely on digital news more than traditional media.”
Zahid also said he would discuss with Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Keruak on the need to review the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and set up protocol to deal with fake news.