Saturday March 20, 2010
Najib: Press and govt relationship critical
PM: Press and Govt relationship critical
KUALA LUMPUR: The media is a partner in change to transform Malaysia into a high income nation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“I need you on this journey to communicate to the nation, and educate the people to embrace and adopt change, not to fear it,” he told journalists and the business fraternity before giving out awards at the National Press Club (NPC) – Naza Awards Night last night.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to former The Star group chief editor Datuk V.K. Chin during the National Press Club-Naza Award. Looking on are TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa and NPC president Datuk Ahiruddin Attan (right). For example, on the issue of reducing sugar subsidy, Najib urged for media coverage to lean towards the health angle explaining how too much sugar consumption was bad for health, instead of harping on how the higher price of sugar would burden the public.
“A symbiotic relationship between the press and the Government is absolutely critical for our future and development as a nation,” he said.
He also believed the sense of social responsibility and self-censorship in the local media had helped to preserve the balance of Malaysia’s multi-ethnicity and religions.
“I have always been of the view that freedom without responsibility is no freedom at all. I believe the world media can take some lessons from our Malaysian media.
“This is probably what some self-appointed western guardians of the free press at times fail to understand,” he said.
He also denied that Malaysia lacked press freedom and said such accusations were grossly unfair.
“As long as the reports do not run foul of our existing laws, the press is free to report on pretty much anything,” he said.
During the night, The Star’s former group chief editor Datuk V.K. Chin was honoured with the NPC-TM Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the profession during his long career. He was GCE from 1986 to 1993.
The Star managing editor P. Gunasegaram was awarded the NPC-Scomi Journalist of the Year along with Utusan Group assistant chief editor Mohd Zaini Hassan.
The late Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail, respected for his fight for press freedom, was honoured with the NPC-AmBank Media Legend Award. His son Hamed received the award from Najib on behalf of of his late father.
Famous cartoonist Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, fondly known as Lat, was given the NPC-Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin 1Malaysian of the Year Award for his drawings which depicted Malaysian life and society; as well as giving a local depth to the meaning to unity.
The NPC-Celcom Axiata Rookie of the Year went to the Bernama TV Gaza Team comprising Kuzaimah Idris, Mohd Shafiee Abdullah, Masrenny Masri and Azmawati Azmi.
Blogger Kugan Kathegesen was given the NPC-TM New Media Award for adding value to traditional media.
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