‘Disagree on facts, not wild allegations’

KUALA LUMPUR: The media plays an important role in helping the people distinguish between facts and wild allegations, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Speaking at the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards 2016 here, he said the media could disagree with the government, but not on unfounded allegations.

“You do not have to agree all the time with the government, but please disagree on facts, not on wild allegations.

“I admit that the era of ‘government-knows-it-all’ is over and there are weaknesses here and there, but I will not accept completely unfounded allegations.

“(To the media).. please help me distinguish between wild allegations and facts, as l we owe it to the country and the people,” he said during the event at Shangri-La Hotel here.

Najib pointed out that there were unfair allegations from a former leader on the investments made by the current government, but not the previous governments.

“Why has there been a double standard? This is a question that we must ask.

“Truth is something we hold on to and the people will use it to decide what is good for them, society and the country,” he said.

Malaysia, Najib said, has a bright future ahead, and the people must reject baseless accusations thrown at the government.

“Do not say that we are a failed state or on the verge of bankruptcy. We must unequivocally reject these baseless accusations.

“We will work as hard as we can to make Malaysia a top 20 nation in 30 years,” he said.

Present were Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and MPI chief executive officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya.

Page 1 pic: NSTP chief executive officer Datuk A Jalil Hamid (centre) celebrating the win with journalists, photographers and graphic artists at the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.