Day: May 28, 2023

The survival of a media institution does not only depend on how fast it can disseminate news, but also how far it carries the truth, which is one of the important principles in journalism.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said fake news can lead to destruction, turning love into hatred.

“That is why, I am very confident, the strength of the media, whether conventional or new media, lies not only in the variety of content but also the value of transparency and integrity it brings.

“As long as that spirit and integrity can be maintained, then the journalism profession will continue to be strong and respected,” he said in his speech at the National Journalists’ Day celebration (HAWANA) 2023 themed ‘Free Media, Pillar of Democracy’ officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, his deputy Teo Nie Ching and Bernama chief executive officer Roslan Ariffin.

Saarani said the role of the media has never vanished, not only as an initiator of the people’s thoughts but as a nation builder by playing the role of monitoring the checks and balances that is vital in the process and administration of the government.

In other words, the media is a medium to toss critical views and thoughtful ideas so that improvements can be applied in administrative affairs, he said.

“I always believe that a good government is one that always listens, open to views and constructive criticism. Like other sectors, journalism is also facing such drastic changes.

“Social media makes news spread so quickly. ‘Instant journalists’ appear like mushrooms after the rain, that until a certain stage, conventional media such as newspapers will come to a dead end,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Tabung Haji (TH) has targeted 10,000 participants for the sacrificial worship programme through its THiJARI digital services and branch offices, this year.

Its finance operations director Shamsul Bahar Shamsudin said registration was open to Haj pilgrims and TH depositors in the country from the middle of this month until June 24.

He said the price of a sheep for the sacrificial act this year is RM900 compared to RM810 last year.

“We are performing the qurban obligation in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank and they will be taking care of everything.

“The qurban will be performed in the Holy Land and the qurban meat will be distributed there as well as to 25 other countries including Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Mali, Ghana, Bangladesh and Azerbaijan,” he told reporters here.

Shamsul Bahar said so far, 6,500 participants have signed up for the sacrificial worship programme.

In the meantime, he said the dam payment or obligatory fine for those performing Tamatuk Haj and Qiran Haj this year is RM725 for the slaughter of a sheep.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

An out-of-court mediation centre needs to be established to resolve disputes involving Muslims and non-Muslims, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

He said the mediation process was informal and required a suitable platform to be implemented to help the parties involved, apart from the court context.

“This is because it involves a dispute between a Muslim and non-Muslim, namely a non-Muslim father and Muslim mother and child, without prejudicing any party… apart from it involving two different courts, namely civil and Syariah.

“We do not want any party to take this opportunity to cause conflict and unrest. We want to create a society that is united and understanding,” he said when met at a ceremony to introduce a copy of the Quran published by Karya Bestari, Karangkraf Book Group in conjunction with the 40th Kuala Lumpur International Book Festival here today.

He was commenting on a child custody case following a viral video on social media recently showing a mother and her nine-year-old child being separated after the Kuantan High Court decided that the child’s custody be handed over to the father.

It is understood that the child is of an Orang Asli couple who have divorced and was previously being looked after by the mother who had embraced Islam.

The Kuantan High Court on Thursday ordered the child to be handed over to the non-Muslim father through a habeas corpus order.

Mohd Na’im, however, said the establishment of the mediation centre still required further study by the authorities for it to be implemented either under the civil court or otherwise.

“What is most important is that the mediator appointed in the mediation process must consist of a combination of Syariah law experts, civil law experts and child specialists. I am confident that this informal way can solve the problem fairly and that the interests of the children are taken care of,” he said.

Meanwhile, commenting on a viral video allegedly showing deviant teachings involving a ‘pesantren’ (traditional Islamic boarding school) in a neighbouring country, Mohd Na’im said a committee of syariah experts would be formed as soon as possible by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) to study the matter.

A video had previously gone viral on social media showing a religious ceremony with elements of deviant teachings at a pesantren in a neighbouring country, and which was allegedly attended by many Malaysians, causing concern among netizens.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Three veteran journalists in Perak received assistance from the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative in conjunction with the 2023 National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) celebration aimed at supporting media practitioners and former media personnel in need.

They are former freelance reporter Ou So Ha @ Ou Kok Meng, 74, part-time Tamil newspaper reporter Malar V. Maniam, 76, and Independent.my news portal editor Haron Shafei, 65.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented the aid to them in conjunction with the opening of HAWANA 2023 here, today.

Ou, who is now in poor health, has written for several Chinese-language newspapers, including China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau, while Maniam, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, has worked for Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban.

Meanwhile, Haron, who used to be a journalist for Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and the Bintang Timur tabloid, is now a freelance writer for Independent.my.

Haron, when met by Bernama, said that the assistance received through the fund today would help him to some extent, as he currently had no fixed income.

“This (aid) is a noble effort and needs to be continued in the future,” said the journalist who has been involved in the field since 1978.

Tabung Kasih@Hawana is an initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD), implemented through the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), as a continuous effort to help the media community who are facing hardship.

Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil had previously presented aid to two recipients, namely former Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd journalist Muhammad Basir Abu Bakar, who is suffering from heart disease, and veteran journalist Mohd Sidek Salleh, who is undergoing treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) after undergoing surgery for colon cancer.

Donations were also given to Haslinda Ahmad, the widow of TV3 Perak cameraman Rosli Abu Bakar, who died on May 9 due to multiple health complications.

The aid was contributed by KKD, Bank Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari, Mydin, Aeon Big and MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency