PETALING JAYA: The media must continue to stand as the “Fourth Pillar” in protecting the environment and wildlife, says Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ching Thoo Kim.
Ching said the media has played a tireless role in raising public awareness of environmental and wildlife conservation issues.
However, he acknowledged that modern media faces new challenges, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence, which has made verifying information increasingly difficult.
“Despite this, members of the media have never tired, never wavered, and have continued to help the ministry in promoting our programmes and initiatives.
“As someone who has studied communication, I understand how crucial the media’s role is to us in the ministry. You are like the ‘fourth government’ or the ‘fourth pillar’.
“Therefore, I ask for the media’s continued cooperation in covering our programmes and promoting our environmental and sustainability agenda,” he said at the ministry’s media appreciation ceremony yesterday.
Ching, who represented Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani at the event, also described the media as an essential partner in wildlife protection.
He highlighted the media’s role in raising awareness about the five-year-old baby elephant that was killed on the Gerik-Jeli highway earlier this year.
“That news reached the entire nation – and it was the media that highlighted the importance of protecting our environment and wildlife.
“Thanks to your coverage, public awareness grew, creating a new wave of concern for nature and bringing us one step closer to preventing the extinction of our wildlife.
“We ask for your continued support in telling compelling stories that will help us make the case to the Finance Ministry for much-needed funding,” he said.
Ching also expressed his ministry’s appreciation for the media’s dedication to delivering credible, meaningful stories that encourage Malaysians to care about nature and sustainability.
He also urged the media to continue helping cultivate sustainable habits among Malaysians, saying that sustainability should be a way of life rather than a passing trend.
“The ministry is eager to promote a new culture of sustainable living, but it will take time for this to become part of our daily lives,” he said.
“With the media’s help, we hope to create a society where people instinctively pick up any rubbish they see and throw it into the bin.
“Let us continue working together so that one day, we can proudly say Malaysia is a clean, healthy and sustainable nation.”
