Close Cooperation Between Enforcement Agencies, Media Vital To Ensure Accuracy Of Information
PUTRAJAYA, June 15 (Bernama) -- Enforcement agencies need to work more closely with the media to ensure that information on services, policies and programmes is delivered accurately and effectively to the public.
Former Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali emphasised that such cooperation is crucial, as the media serves as a strategic partner in helping enforcement agencies convey clear and consistent messages about their initiatives and actions to the community.
"The media and enforcement agencies are interdependent. The media plays a vital role in ensuring that every message, including those related to the enforcement and public service delivery, reaches the community comprehensively,” he said.
Mustafar, who is also the former Director-General of the National Financial Crimes Prevention Centre (NFCC), noted that throughout his career, he has maintained close ties with the media to help raise public awareness about enforcement activities and to foster public support for these efforts.
“This relationship is important because public backing can strengthen enforcement initiatives. When people are well-informed, they are more likely to cooperate with and support the work of enforcement agencies,” he told Bernama in conjunction with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebration.
He said agencies such as the Immigration Department, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and NFCC should explore new innovative ways to collaborate with the media so that everything is delivered simply and effectively.
“I believe that our media operates professionally, and equally important is for agencies to provide information clearly, promptly and in a way that is relevant to the public.
“People today don’t have the time or interest to read lengthy texts. They want quick, concise updates on issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mustafar said the media in Malaysia has been given freedom to report, but with that freedom comes the responsibility for every media practitioner to uphold ethical standards and deliver news that is factual and accurate.
“The media must remain free, but at the same time, practitioners also have a responsibility to ensure the information they disseminate is correct. Do not let the news be misunderstood, as this can lead to misunderstandings and create negative perceptions of the country or individuals,” he said.
The chairman of Rapid Bus Sdn. Bhd also reminded the public to be discerning when evaluating and filtering news sources, particularly on social media platforms where information spreads rapidly but is not always reliable.
Themed “New Era Journalism: Balancing AI and Ethics”, the culmination of the HAWANA 2025 celebration took place yesterday at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) with the opening by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and was attended by about 1,000 local and foreign media practitioners.
The HAWANA 2025 celebration will continue with various activities, including media sports events featuring traditional games, and a series of tours to premier polytechnics in Selangor, Perak and Johor to instil interest in the world of journalism and media in the younger generation.
HAWANA, organised by the Ministry of Communications with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency, aims to celebrate the role and contribution of media practitioners in the country’s development.
-- BERNAMA
