KUALA LUMPUR – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has once again urged media practitioners to practice proper journalism ethics in determining news articles’ headlines, asserting that cabinet members and netizens have expressed concern over the issue.
Addressing a post-cabinet meeting press conference at his ministry’s complex in Putrajaya today, Fahmi delivered the “admonishment” to media members on behalf of the cabinet and social media users.
“This reprimand is not just from among cabinet members, but I have also read on social media regarding the difference between clickbait headlines and the content of news articles,” Fahmi, who is also the government spokesman, told reporters.
“I won’t touch on the matter (much), but I hope that media practitioners can discuss among themselves the suitability and fairness in choosing headlines (and determine whether) the headlines represent and align with the news content.”
The minister said this when answering a question about pressure from certain quarters urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take action against Bloomberg over its article alleging interference in investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
When asked how he feels about such calls, Fahmi said: “I feel nothing. We can see that the prime minister has not taken any action thus far and the cabinet has not been informed (of potential action against Bloomberg).”
Fahmi also said that while the government stands by the principle of allowing the media its right to report on issues and protect its sources, it is also hoped that media outlets will provide parties mentioned in its report the right to reply.
On September 26, Bloomberg published an article quoting sources claiming that MACC had been investigating Anwar’s “adversaries” while not probing the “share purchases by one of the prime minister’s allies”.
The US-based media company named former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ex-finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin as well as their family members as among those MACC was investigating.
It also named Anwar’s former political secretary Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador as the person involved in share purchases in HeiTech Padu Bhd in March. Aas of April, Farhash was no longer a substantial shareholder in the company.
Bloomberg also included the anti-graft agency’s response to its request for comments in its article. In its response, the anti-graft agency said it firmly refutes claims regarding any instructions from the prime minister influencing or obstructing specific investigations.
The day after the article was published, MACC issued a statement reiterating its position, adding: “The (report) is inaccurate and there is no credibility to the claims made against the commission.”
The Prime Minister’s Office has also denied the claims detailed in the report. – October 8, 2024