Avoid Sensitive 3R Issues
KUALA LUMPUR: Media practitioners must continue playing their role in uniting Malaysia’s multiracial society by promoting messages of unity and avoiding issues that could threaten harmony.
Deputy National Unity Minister R. Yuneswaran said media cooperation was essential in conveying unity messages to the public, not only from his ministry but also from related departments.
He said that throughout his nearly 11 months in office, the media had played a significant role in helping disseminate information and messages of unity to the people.
According to him, the National Unity Ministry had also introduced the “Yuk Bersama Membina Negara Bangsa” campaign to encourage efforts towards strengthening national unity.
He was speaking to reporters at the Deputy National Unity Minister’s Hi-Tea Session with the Media at Dorsett Hotel Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
Yuneswaran said comments made by certain social media users had the potential to undermine social harmony, making it essential to continuously monitor elements of slander and messages that could divide the people.
“The Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), also plays a role in monitoring these elements,” he said.
Meanwhile, he explained that unity-related matters should not necessarily be equated with 3R issues involving race, religion and royalty, as some concerns were actually linked to government policies, economic disparities, social issues and crime.
According to him, economic disparities exist not only between different ethnic groups but also within the same ethnic community, while social issues and criminal activities are sometimes associated with particular races or religions, creating racial perceptions.
“In reality, these are policy, criminal and civil matters. We need to look at them from a legal perspective,” he said.
Yuneswaran said the ministry had implemented various programmes and activities throughout the year related to the Rukun Negara and nation-building, including National Unity Week, which he described as highly successful.
Sinar Harian