SCAMS continue to plague communities across Sabah – from love scams and phantom investments to bogus “save the country” funds raised to dupe unsuspecting victims.
While such incidents are frequently reported in the news, many people no longer read newspapers, preferring instead to trust unverified links and social media posts from questionable sources.
This trend has contributed to millions in losses every year. In Kota Kinabalu alone, online fraud cases recorded between January and March this year amounted to over RM11.12mil.
Kota Kinabalu Journalist Association (KKJA) chairman Datuk Jimmy Goh described the situation as deeply worrying and said it must be countered.
“As newsmen, we try to educate and create awareness by writing about the cases and warning the public to be careful. But people seldom read the news nowadays and would rather believe in ‘reels or shorts’,” he said during the KKJA press night here recently.
He noted that with the media fraternity slowly being overtaken by social media, the concern is not just about the livelihood of those still in the industry, but more critically, how verified information is being shared.
Goh stressed that this is not merely a youth problem – it cuts across all ages and educational and social backgrounds.
“If you read the news, those who are scammed to the hundreds of thousands and millions are usually educated people. So what does this tell us?” he asked.
For young people, he added, the risks often come in other forms – such as fake job offers, or being tricked into becoming drug or account mules.
Goh said the media industry now faces a greater challenge: rebuilding trust and regaining readership.
“We have to produce quality articles that appeal to the public, so that readers will want to grab that piece of paper early in the morning. We need valuable news to be shared so that people will have the excitement to listen to what’s on the news,” he stressed.
He also called on schools, shops, and other business outlets to continue supporting the media industry – not only by trusting the news they publish, but also by buying and advertising in news outlets, so that reporters and photographers can continue to do better.
Earlier, organising chairman Nancy Lai reminded the public why mainstream and digital media must work together to share verified and accurate information.
She said both must complement each other, especially in this age of artificial intelligence, where fake news often takes centre stage.
She also took the opportunity to thank the association’s longtime sponsors and partners for their continued support of KKJA and its events.
Meanwhile, the press night itself brought together hundreds of working and retired media practitioners for the association’s annual gathering, complete with fun activities, lucky draws, food and drinks, and the support of advisors and sponsors who have helped KKJA operate for over three decades.
Those off duty turned up with their families to enjoy the night, while those still working quickly wrapped up the day’s assignments before joining in for an evening of relaxation and catching up with old friends.
