Written by Farhah
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said ethical journalism is vital in creating an informed society as is being planned for the Communications and Multimedia Ministry in its Communications and Multimedia Blueprint.
He said the country was now in the era of post-truth where the existence of fake news, especially on various social media platforms with huge followers, was a norm.
“What is more saddening, the public who have been exposed to fake news and not based on facts, take whatever is being served to them blindly.”
“They cannot differentiate between diamond and glass.We know blogs, Facebook and social media portals are not bound by the ethics of the conventional media, “he said at the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-Petronas Malaysian Press Night (MPN) 2017 here Friday night.
Datuk Seri Najib also said if the fake news not is curbed and controlled, it will become phenomenon and threat to national security from various angle.
The prime minister said the media had its responsibilities to clarify to the public on what facts and spreading slander were all about.
Datuk Seri Najib also urged professional journalists to be at the forefront in stopping fake news and lies, especially when there were now quarters from inside and outside the country out to purposely discredit the image of Malaysia by making inaccurate statements on the current state of economy and politics.