Write 3R issues but do it with care, Anwar tells media

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned media practitioners not to make offensive remarks when writing about 3R (royalty, race, and religion) issues.

Anwar said there has never been any intention to restrict media practitioners from expressing their views about the government, but also underscored the potential dangers that careless or offensive remarks in these areas could pose to national unity.

“We can already discuss issues of race, religion, and royalty but we cannot use those issues in ways that can divide and harm us.

“I want to clarify that there has never been any discussion within the government and among colleagues in the cabinet to urge for or take control over the freedom of journalists and media practitioners in giving their views, comments, and criticisms,” he said at the MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards 2023 ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

By urging media practitioners to handle 3R issues with care and respect, the prime minister hopes to foster a media environment that contributes to national cohesion rather than division.

Anwar said he firmly believes that Malaysia has the potential to emerge as a beacon of greatness and strength on the global stage.

This is if the nation dedicates itself to the objectives of peace, economic prosperity, cultural enrichment, religious harmony, and digital advancement.

However, he cautioned against succumbing to the pitfalls of divisive controversies, urging Malaysians to steer clear of issues that threaten to fracture our unity.

Anwar also emphasised the importance of shunning ignorance and arrogance, recognising that such attitudes have the potential to corrode the very fabric of our humanity.

He highlighted the crucial role media practitioners play in fostering national unity, saying that journalists bear significant responsibility in shaping public opinion and ensuring the dissemination of balanced and respectful discourse.

“How do we evaluate a successful journalist? They work with confidence and have passion in their profession,” he added. - Mkini