Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Don't sensationalise, Hisham warns media


Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein today reminded newspapers which sensationalise any issue to boost sales to be prepared to face the penalty if the report was untrue.

He said the media should verify facts before publishing any report and should assume responsibility for what was reported.

"Although my ministry's relationship with the media has long been established, we do not show favouritism when it comes to false reports and any media which reports untruths will be penalised.

"The media must face up to any situation because they are fully responsible for their reports," he said after chairing a meeting on the Agenda on the Management of Foreigners Encompassing the Issue of Human Trafficking, at Parliament House here.

Hishammuddin's remarks came in the wake of a show-cause letter sent to China

Press over the newspaper's recent report that the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan would retire before Police Day on March 25 and be replaced by deputy IGP Ismail Omar.

The newspaper had quoted sources as saying that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Hishammuddin had received Musa's resignation letter. Hishammuddin and Musa have dismissed the report as untrue.

Asked to elaborate on the show-cause letter, Hishammuddin said China Press had responded to the letter and the reply was being considered by the ministry and that an announcement on the status of the newspaper would be made soon.

Hishammuddin said his ministry always monitored media reports and viewed

with grave concern reports on sensitive issues.

- Bernama

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