By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 7: Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh proposes a Sarawak Media Council and Sarawak Media Institute be set up to strengthen the media sector in the state.
He explained that the Sarawak Media Council will be responsible for streamlining the functions of the media in Sarawak and serve as the bridge between media organisations and the government.
“At the same time, the council will also be tasked to streamline media coverage for all government activities, including determining the coverage of state leaders outside the country as well as promoting Sarawak to the world.
“The council will be an umbrella body of media organisations, editors, publishers, and journalists in Sarawak,” he told the august House when debating the 2020 State Budget today.
As for the Sarawak Media Institute, Miro explained that the institute will become the driver to organise various programmes, courses and seminars to provide opportunities for media practitioners to gain knowledge on modern journalism and the use of new and cutting edge communication technologies.
He pointed out that the media plays an important role in disseminating information, including government policies, to the people of Sarawak.
“As such, media with integrity is very much needed to provide information, knowledge and insights to the diverse community,” he said.
He highlighted that in recent years, the wave of borderless social media posed a challenge to contemporary media, causing the people to be confused over the authencity of information disseminated.
“Sometimes, the information may not be accurate, made up — accusation and bias that could poison the people.
“Due to the uncontrollable situation, we need to create a mechanism to control and prevent the situation from worsening,” he added. — DayakDaily
