in a flash 04 May 2009

IN A FLASH 04 May 2009

GOOD AFTERNOON AND SALAM MUHIBAH.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR IN A FLASH.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim wants all the media in the country to highlight articles and stories on human interest.

He said most of the stories featured on television today portrayed dignitaries or speeches of certain individuals but rarely on human interest.

He said the success story of a Chinese smallholder in a new village who gets aid from Risda is one example, but such stories are not aired at all. Another example is that of an Indian community obtaining success from breeding goats which received little media coverage.

The focus was always on socio-political speeches, he said, adding that he is not saying that such statements are not important. They are, but the television stations should realise that the country is building a society and we should project healthy practices.


He told reporters after opening a carnival to mark the 60th anniversary celebration of Kampung Baru Titi, near Kuala Klawang, yesterday.

He said each programme was assessed on the role it played in keeping the society better informed besides educating, and ultimately, entertaining the society.

He added the media must merge all these three objectives so that a programme is not boring and at the same time, the local audience feels that it is part of the news, feature, social, cultural, arts, heritage, educational programme and so forth.

As such, he said, the ministry was re-assessing every community-based programme, especially those on RTM.

Dr Rais said the ministry would organise workshops with the heads of broadcasting to find ways to strike a healthy ratio in terms of portraying the development of the Malaysian society.

He also said that all activities to impart the 1Malaysia concept were being drawn up so that not only the ministry, but also all the other government departments had their own role to play.

Besides that, the visits by the Information department to the districts and villages should send out the message on the importance of the people staying united in their struggle as the Malaysian race.

He added many people say that the Malaysian race in the eyes of the opposition is only a dream. In this context, we don't want to change the race, we only want to unite the Malaysian society towards one struggle so that we can be strong in terms of the economy, security, social and cultural achievements and the variety of our joint struggle is moulded into an ideology that forms a strong Malaysian society.

/ends—BERNAMA

THAT’S THE END OF IN A FLASH FOR TODAY.

SALAM MUHIBAH.