PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet on Wednesday (Aug 5) acknowledged the need to strengthen cooperation between the media, social media platforms, and relevant agencies to ensure that information related to suicidal behaviour is conveyed responsibly and ethically, says government spokesperson Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister also noted that the matter was among those discussed at a roundtable organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Forum (CMCF) in collaboration with the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEM).
“The discussion focused on the role of the media in preventing suicidal behaviour.
"It emphasised ethical reporting practices, responsible information delivery and closer cooperation among various parties in efforts to prevent suicide,” he added during the weekly press conference on Wednesday.
At the same time, the Cabinet noted that NCEM under the Health Ministry, together with CMCF, must engage more closely and deeply with social media platforms that may host videos or content which could be misinterpreted or contribute to increased suicidal behaviour.
“Cooperation with enforcement agencies, especially investigative bodies, is also crucial to ensure that any communication provided is responsible, accurate, ethical, and does not have negative side effects on society.
“This is to ensure that any communication provided meets the criteria we require for responsible, accurate, and ethical delivery, without causing negative side effects to society,” he said adding that this integrated approach is crucial.
