PH administrative and party should changes their approaches and mentality

SEREMBAN -- Media practitioners and the ruling government should complement each other and there should be no prejudicial concerns implying that the media members are pro-opposition, a political analyst said.

Associate Professor Mohd Izani Mohd Zain from the Faculty of Human Ecology of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) believes that most media practitioners today are serving the current government administered by Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition comprising Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

This is due to the importance of the role of the media not only in reporting on the program implemented by the government but also the parties’ activities, he said.

His view was sought due to the trouble faced by the media practitioners in the state while reporting on the nomination process of the state PKR leadership election, recently.

This situation has caused dissatisfaction among media members as PKR, currently the governing party of the state, still regarded them as the opposition.

There are members of the media claiming that they were asked to leave by the party's secretariat after waiting for a few hours, and there are even media members who felt perplexed as nobody helped them to obtain information about the candidates.

According to one media member, although they are not invited, the PKR's state pre-election is certainly a focus not only among the media but the community, especially as it involves nomination of the menteri besar, who is also the Negeri Sembilan PKR chairman Aminuddin Harun.

Thus, in this case, there should be a 'win-win' situation that complements each other for both political party and the media.

As the party that formed the state government together with other component parties in PH, the nomination process for PKR election should have an interesting news value to be shared with the community.

Mohd Izani said, in the spirit of new Malaysia, PKR Negeri Sembilan should no longer be prejudicial thinking that today's media are pro-opposition.

“This is because most media are serving the government of the day. They play an important role not only in reporting the government's activities but also help to raise the image of the party. If good coverage can be given by the media to the party following the given cooperation, then the credibility and image of the party will improve.

“Party leaders and grassroots should trust and have a good relationship with the mainstream media which is more credible than social media.

 “The leaders should also realise that before the GE14 (14th General Election) they were the opposition but now they are the government,” he said.

He said that as long as the report does not pose any harm or threat, the media should be given the full opportunity to do coverage.

“Leaders and party members should immediately change their approaches and way of thinking so as to be seen to be more media-friendly,” he said.

Mohd Izani realised that efforts to change the mentality from the opposition to the ruling government would take some time and so does the previous party, but it does need a drastic change so that the party, the government and the media could go hand in hand to explain any policy made for the benefit of the people.

“If there are certain restrictions or not being invited, for example, the media members will be facing problems in their work. Prejudice against the media has to stop. In the spirit of the new Malaysia, the party and the government need a new perspective that is more media appreciative.

“Media should be given freedom to report issues as long as they do not threaten the national security, racial harmony and the image of the government and the party,” he said. -- Bernama