KUCHING: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen strongly believes in the relevance of traditional media as a trustworthy source of information in the modern digital era.
Despite the widespread availability of information on various social media platforms and the increasing trend of accessing news via mobile phones, he stressed the necessity for readers to discern and identify fake news.
Chong acknowledged the ease of accessing news reports in the current era but cautioned against the associated threats and challenges, such as misleading stories from unreliable sources.
“When I cannot confirm the authenticity of a report, I always turn to traditional or mainstream media to verify if they have covered the story or highlighted the issue,” he said.
He added that newspapers have always acted as a ‘bridge’ between the government and the people, believing that traditional media will persist in playing a crucial role in disseminating information, including government policies and agendas.
Chong, who is also the Stampin MP and Padungan assemblyman, was speaking at the DAP media night here on Monday (Dec 18).
Meanwhile, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching, present at the event, disclosed that her ministry is in the final stages of drafting the Malaysian Media Council bill.
The bill, a key agenda for her ministry, is expected to be tabled in March next year.
“With the establishment of the council, we expect to have more responsible media practitioners, while serving as an authority to decide whether an article is ethical or unethical. The council will also contribute to enhancing media literacy within the community.”
Among those present at the event were Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.
