| Govt Never Meddle In News Selection - Shabery |
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KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Bernama) -- Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the government has never meddled in the selection of news items by the media including those by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).
He said the media was free to decide on the priority and never directed for certain news to be carried or which should be dropped.
"We want the media to think what is news value. I have never directed on what news to be given priority or not and leave it to RTM and the other media to find decide on the priority," he said after presenting prizes at the international Mandarin debating competition here tonight.
Ahmad Shabery was commenting on the statement by PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik that the media had given excessive coverage to the sodomy case of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim causing disgrace although he has yet to be proven guilty.
The Kelantan Menteri Besar was disappointed that Anwar's arrest was given wide coverage while his release was only given brief mention.
Ahmad Shabery said Anwar's case would have been given wider coverage in a country which practices total media freedom.
"It would have become a lot bigger in a country without media control as the media will opt for sensationalism craved by the masses, just to sell the newspapers."
He said the media reports were not made on government orders but in the interest of the people who wanted to know the latest developments.
Ahmad Shabery urged the media particularly RTM not to sensationalise the matter and to be fair to those involved.
-- BERNAMA
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