Fahmi: Prioritise mainstream media as official source


KOTA BARU: Mainstream media should be prioritised as the official source of reference for the public and not social media, says the Communications Minister.

Fahmi Fadzil (pic) said social media users needed to be wary and not easily believe news conveyed through social media platforms.

“(Mainstream media) journalists have a lot of experience (and connections) and can accurately verify their information before sending in their reports.

“As such, mainstream media should be prioritised over social media,” he said after a breakfast session with the Kelantan Media Club here yesterday, Bernama reported.

To help check the spread of false information, Fahmi said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was developing a WhatsApp Chatbot, in addition to the Sebenarnya.my website.

“I have seen the Chatbot created in the form of a ‘Beta Trial’ version. With this Chatbot, the public can ask for confirmation using AI on whether the news is true and authentic.

“Social media users need to be vigilant and not too easily believe what we read on social media,” he said.

Fahmi said the WhatsApp Chatbot, to be launched soon, could only verify information in text form and not videos or images.

The minister also said part-time journalists and stringers were entitled to benefits under the Bernama-PERKESO social protection scheme for self-employed persons.

He said that this was an ongoing effort to prioritise the welfare and needs of media practitioners, including providing financial assistance and other help to those facing difficulties.

On Aug 15 last year, Bernama and PERKESO inked an MOU to extend protection to part-time media practitioners under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme.

The MOU is a government initiative to improve social security protection, especially for media practitioners who faced various challenges in their line of work.

The scheme benefits 493 registered part-time media practitioners or stringers from 45 media organisations nationwide, with each receiving annual PERKESO contributions amounting to RM232.80 as of last July 1.

On another matter, Fahmi said the Malaysian Media Council Bill will be tabled for second reading in Parliament next month.

“I hope we will be able to elevate the status of the media in our country, besides making the media sector an industry that is not only sustainable but also capable of exercising self-control on certain matters,” he added.

Fahmi said it was important to ensure that media freedom, as well as journalistic ethics and professionalism, were always at a high level.

At the event, the minister presented RM10,000 to the club for its activities.

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