KOTA KINABALU: The state government respects and values fair and honest reporting in its vision to build a better Sabah, says Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ceaser Mandela Malakun.
He said as a government official, he understood that the media have their responsibilities to get news out, gather facts and ask questions.
"Although sometimes, we are not happy about the questions, we understand you are just doing your job and we respect that," he said at the closing of the Kota Kinabalu Media and Communications Recreational Club (MedComm KK) friendly pool and dart games here on Saturday.
"We value constructive criticism and honest engagement because despite our political differences and views that might not necessarily align, our hope is to build a better Sabah," Malakun said.
That is why the government respects the job of the media and asks that in turn, the public too respect the roles and duties of state representatives.
He said disagreements over issues and politics should not affect relations between both parties, as all have their rights to opinions.
Malakun said in fact, the media, government agencies and leaders should foster closer relations by, among other things, being part of programmes such as friendly matches outside work.
"Sometimes we forget that a single game together like this and enjoying each other's company means a lot, a thousand times more than all our work," he said.
Towards this end, he congratulated MedComm KK for their success in organising the friendly matches, which brought together over 100 participants including media and communications practitioners from Peninsular Malaysia and state agencies.
The MedComm KK friendly pool tournament held at Jpool Damai saw the National Press Club (NPC) emerging as champions, while MedComm KK bagged gold for darts held at Crooners Bar in Kepayan.
Earlier during the opening, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Deputy Chairman Datuk Tan Kok Liang said programmes such as these promote a healthy lifestyle and foster better relations between state agencies, government officials and media practitioners.
Tan urged for more such activities to be held to promote camaraderie among participants, saying this also helps in work-related matters as they often depend on each other to make policies and programmes work.
Also present were NPC vice-president Datuk Farrah Naz Karim and treasurer Sharanjit Singh, as well as MedComm KK chairman Christopher Maskilone.
