BY: CATHERINE SAW

In arguably the first time in the history of Malaysia since Merdeka or Independence from the British in 1957, current prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) has assured the media of freedom of expression.

While Malaysians and the international community are pleased as punch with this much awaited development, there are those who offer certain useful insights into freedom of the press which is worthy of consideration.

These media practitioners caution that freedom of the press must not be seen as an opportunity to let fly or let loose all hell in the media without any form of checks and balances to ensure responsible and credible journalism

While DSAI stated that the media is free to criticise the government, it must be through accurate, fair and balanced reporting without any form of malice or prejudice. It must be done in the right and proper manner.

Media practitioners, or anyone else, are not above the laws of the land and when they offer dissent it must be honest, true and constructive in nature and not detrimental to public interest or any person or organization.

More important than offering criticism or dissent, the media must play their role in nation building and ensuring that they have always at the back of their agenda the welfare and well being of the people and the nation.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher