Mainstream media still trusted for accurate, in-depth reports, says Alice Lau
Lau (seated fifth left) is seen with SJA members and guests at the event.
SIBU (June 10): Social media may be the common mode used to share news but mainstream media such as newspapers and television stations are still trusted for providing accurate and in-depth reports, said Alice Lau.
The Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker said journalists are trained to seek the truth, verify facts, as well as present fair and balanced reports to the public.
'They are not just sharing messages but are truth-seekers and truth-tellers, helping our society make sense of complex issues,' she said at the Sibu Journalists Association (SJA) installation and Gawai celebration last night.
The Lanang MP said in today's digital era, social media and online platforms have enabled information to travel faster than ever.
While this is convenient, she pointed out there are also challenges as misinformation and fake news can spread rapidly, especially through unverified sources.
'Nowadays, anyone can post content, information, or news on platforms like Facebook, WeChat, TikTok, or Instagram. But that doesn't make everyone a journalist. As more people turn to social media and 'self-media', journalists also need to keep up.
'This doesn't mean just blindly following the latest trends, but rather strengthening their professional skills, using new tools wisely, and staying true to their mission,' she said.
Lau pointed out that while most people can cook, not everyone can become a master chef.
She also shared that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced an additional RM1 million this year for the Tabung Kasih @ Hawana.
The fund, set up in April 2023, helps media professionals facing health challenges or in urgent need of support.
'This shows that the Madani government truly appreciates the hard work and contributions of journalists in our country,' added Lau.
To date, 405 media members have received aid from Tabung Kasih @ Hawana.
Among those attending the SJA event were Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh; Sibu MP Oscar Ling; Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng; Joshua Ting – a political secretary to the Premier, who represented Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing; and SJA chairperson Florence Nervyn. Alice Lau lead mainstream media Sibu Journalists Association
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Taxing taste of Malaysian politics
PM Anwar shared this image of himself pushing a wheelbarrow, captioned 'New Year Clean-up' in ushering in 2025. The photo was widely welcomed by Malaysians, many interpreting it as a hopeful metaphor for a national reset. Yet as SST kicks in, some wonder: will the clean-up go beyond optics – down to the kitchen table? — Photo from Facebook MALAYSIAN politics has certainly entered a new flavour spectrum with the words of politicians not about budget, economy or investment but about what's on our meal plates. Acting Muda president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz recently whipped out a storm by comparing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's supposed love for avocado toast to Najib Razak's infamous switch from rice to quinoa. When 'kolo mee', 'roti canai' and 'nasi lemak' are breakfast of the people (despite rising prices), bringing up avocados and quinoa of the present prime minister and a former one, respectively, which are out-of-touch with everyday Malaysia, seems like a strategic move of Muda. It speaks to how political branding now happens not in speeches or slogans, but in what leaders are seen eating, wearing, or doing on a holiday. But let's unpack this properly – before someone throws a durian into the batter. The timing of Muda's food commentary was not accidental. It came just as the government announced the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) scheduled to take effect this July 1 with the imposition of five per cent to 10 per cent sales tax on selected non-essential goods and broaden the service tax to include services such as rental or leasing, construction, finance, private healthcare, education, and beauty. For many urban middle-class Malaysians, this tax hike stings. Expanded sales tax includes imported fruits; thus, avocado being considered imported goods was uttered by Anwar: 'If the rich want to eat avocados, then they will need to pay a little more.' So what better way to channel discontent than by framing it as a class issue? Muda's avocado analogy may seem like harmless satire, but it taps into a deeper frustration – that leaders may be preaching belt-tightening while they are enjoying imported produce. Whether or not Anwar actually had avocado toast is beside the point. The image has taken root. And in politics, perception is often more powerful than fact. Najib's quinoa moment in 2018 became a national punchline. For a leader under scrutiny for corruption and excess, his choice of a trendy, protein-packed South-American grain, instead of humble rice, was the icing on a chocolate cake. In contrast, Anwar's 'avocado' is not being mocked as luxurious, but to signal detachment from the people. The narrative is 'the Prime Minister does not know the suffering of the people'. This shift is unfavourable to the Madani Government. It shows that younger politicians are now savvier in using cultural signals such as food, fashion and fitness routines to frame their critiques. But it also raises a key question – is this fair game? Both avocado and quinoa are dear to me – not as symbols of elitism, but out of necessity and circumstance. Back when Najib's quinoa quote made headlines, I was struggling with gluten intolerance. I had to replace wheat with quinoa. It was not about being trendy; it was about survival. For two years, quinoa — pricey as it was — became part of my daily diet until, thankfully, I could slowly reintroduce wheat without discomfort. As for avocados, they were not always this high-end item that you now find on café menus with microgreens and olive oil. When I was stationed in Sabah, avocados were so abundant and cheap, I could have avocado toast at any time I wanted without it costing me more than a regular breakfast. In fact, Sabah grows them and in recent years, Sarawak does too. After all, it is a superfood and many lower income groups could afford locally produced avocado. Ironically, Anwar may have picked a food that is not elitist at all — just under-appreciated local produce. That's where I find him a little naïve. He could have used his breakfast moment to celebrate Malaysian farmers and promote food security – not unwittingly serving himself on a silver platter for social media roast. Quoting Prof Dr Ramasamy: 'At least he should have gone one step further by urging Malaysian farmers to plant avocado trees to bring down the imported fruit. 'I am sure his buddy Mohammed Sabu, the Minister of Agriculture, might welcome it especially coming from the Prime Minister.' Muda's strategy could be seen as clever youth-oriented political branding. In a crowded opposition landscape, they need to be louder and fresher. But surely Muda, a party built on reform and ideas resorting to comparing grocery lists risks appearing superficial. More importantly, it shifts the focus from policy to personality. The expanded SST, for instance, deserves serious scrutiny. Is it a fair way to broaden the tax base? Will the government ensure these revenues are channelled into healthcare, education, and cost-of-living relief? Could exemptions be refined to protect vulnerable groups? These are the questions worth debating – not whether Anwar spreads avocado over its breakfast toast. Likewise, when Opposition leaders resort to metaphors instead of manifestos, we must ask – where's your alternative policy? What would Muda do differently on SST, tax reform, or public spending? In the end, it is not what our leaders eat that should matter most – it is what they serve us. If Anwar's policies can stabilise the economy, lower inflation, and protect the poor, then let him enjoy his avocado. If Najib's quinoa came with billion-ringgit scandals, then no amount of quinoa can redeem that taste. And if Muda can only offer critiques based on food preferences, then perhaps it is time for them to go back to the kitchen – and cook up better policies. Because for most Malaysians, the question remains simple – can I still afford breakfast next month? anwar ibrahim cost of living economy Madani malaysia SST tax
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
UPDATE -- Thai PM will not resign or dissolve parliament, ruling party official says
Activists have scheduled a protest in Bangkok on June 28 to ask for Paetongtarn Shinawatra's resignation. -- PHOTO: REUTERS BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand's embattled prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will not resign or dissolve parliament, a senior official from the ruling Pheu Thai party said on Saturday, risking a prolonged political crisis in South-Est Asia's second largest economy. Sorawong Thienthong, who also serves as Thailand's tourism minister, said in a Facebook post that the prime minister would not quit, despite growing calls for her resignation after her apparent mishandling of a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia. "The prime minister has clearly confirmed to us that she will continue to perform her duty to resolve various crises that the country is facing to the best of her ability," he said. "The government confirms that it will continue to work, not resign, and not dissolve parliament." Paetongtarn, daughter of divisive tycoon and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is facing domestic anger over the leak of a phone call between her and Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen, in which she appeared to kowtow before the veteran politician and denigrated a senior Thai military commander. The Bhumjaithai Party, which was the second-biggest partner in Thailand's ruling coalition, withdrew from the alliance late on Wednesday, citing the leak earlier that day. Another coalition member, the United Thai Nation party, looked set to demand Paetongtarn's resignation in return for backing the Pheu Thai-led ruling coalition and securing its narrow parliamentary majority. Paetongtarn has apologised for the call with Hun Sen, but not commented on the crisis so far. Activists have also scheduled a protest in Bangkok starting on June 28 to ask for Paetongtarn's resignation, among them groups with a history of influential rallies against Shinawatra administrations. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Orathai Sriring; Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Mark Potter) - Reuters
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM extends aid to impoverished single mother of 10 in Kuantan
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended aid to Wan Azizah Wan Mohd Ali, 79, a single mother living in poverty in Kampung Sungai Karang Darat, Kuantan, Pahang. The contribution was delivered by the Prime Minister's Political Secretary Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi during a visit to the mother of 10 as part of the Ziarah Madani outreach programme. Ahmad Farhan said Wan Azizah, who relies on her late husband's pension to support her family, is facing various hardships as she also suffers from hypertension and has to care for a child with mental health issues. "Her house is in a severely dilapidated condition, with leaking roofs, rotting floorboards and gaping holes. "On behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, I delivered a contribution as a gesture of concern and am currently reviewing suitable assistance to ease Puan Wan Azizah's burden, including repairing her home," he said in a Facebook post shared by the prime minister today. Ahmad Farhan also prayed that all of Wan Azizah's affairs would be eased by Allah. – Bernama
