At Last Some Very Sensible Advice For The Media.

Media Told Not To Sweep Issues Under The Carpet.
Now that's one headline which was a long time coming. Instead of the usual politically motivated advice to be 'sensitive' to this and that issue and indirectly asking the media to cover up the capers and misdeeds of the political types and their cronies, here was an honest, down-to-earth and practical recommendation to the media.

Of course the person who gave this advice is not a government minister or politician. It's beyond the ability of BNputras to come out with something so patently honest. Read the Bernama report here....

.......While the Malaysian media has so far exercised restraint on reporting ethnic issues, it should not sweep such matters under the carpet, Dr Chandra Muzaffar, a well-known human rights proponent and president of the International Movement for Just World, said here Thursday.

He said the local media should find ways to deal with issues realistically and report sensitive issues like ethnic problems with care "without hurting the feelings of anyone involved".

"Overall the Malaysian media, may they be print or electronic, do not sensationalise but are sensitive to the ethnic texture of the country. In the mainstream media, for example, there had been cases which could be sensationalised but the Malaysian media reported things as they were rather than blew them out of proportion.

"There are three reasons for this. The first is that there are various laws which media practitioners have to follow. Secondly, the media in the country are mostly governed by companies with strong links to the government, and finally, we do not have the culture of confronting sensitive issues in public because none of us want trouble."

Chandra said this at a dialogue with local media practitioners, organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

He said although exercising restraint was good as a whole, it was equally important that the media develop ways to communicate ethnic issues without inflaming the feelings of any particular race in the country.

"The media must find ways to deal with reality and report on issues in such a way that it does not bring about chaos or disorder in the country.

"For example, in the realm of religion, we must be able to use the proper avenues to deal with it. Reporting must also be balanced and not one-sided. The only dimension the nation lacks in terms of tackling racial issues are genuine bridge-builders and the media must play this role effectively," he added.

At the same dialogue, Prof Dr Safar Hashim of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Media Studies Department, said although local newspapers and the electronic media did not sensationalise issues, some did test the limits.

He said it had been reported that up to November this year, a total of 115 show-cause letters had been issued by the government to various media in the country while the publication of three newspapers had been suspended.

"We have become more liberal but some do test the limits. Last year, only 15 show-cause letters were issued. We must look at the reasons why there had been an increase in the number of show-cause letters.

"Although Malaysian society is moving forward, we have laws and more importantly the responsibility to safeguard the ethnic fabric of the country. Being liberalised comes with heavier responsibility, than being governed by fear of the law."

He said although certain laws governing the media in the country called for restrained reporting of ethnic issues, media practitioners needed to have a sense of responsibility in performing their duties.

"If we think on ethnic lines, then there is a need for these laws but if we are responsible and think as a Malaysian rather than a Malay, Chinese or Indian, then we do not need these laws. We can loosen or even do away with them," he added.

Journalists, he said, must contribute to society even if they were accused of sensationalising issues.

"It takes courage to report on ethnic issues and the media has to remember that there is a thin line between being courageous and being stupid," he said.
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