Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak emphasises there are two challenges facing globalisation of the print and new media, namely handling extremism and curbing misinformation of the public.

Najib, who is also Umno president, said firstly society needs to handle extremism so as to ensure the  middle centre or moderate views could be well-presented.

He said the world is controlled by moderates, and there is a need to preserve this and reject extremism.

NONE “The media needs to amplify the voice of reason, and not extremism.

“Malaysia is a plural country and for many years it could be regarded as a small miracle where diverse races living together,” he said.

Najib ( left ), who was speaking at the closing of an international forum titled ‘The Creation of a Global Citizen: Media Liberalisation and New Political Realities’, said if we look at other countries, including European countries, they have a problem of forging a stable government as they distrust one another.

“You do not find that here as although we have diverse backgrounds, we reject extremism and are able to forge unity,” said the Prime Minister.

Media must find a global solution

Najib also said the second danger of globalisation is misinformative reporting by the media.

He said Malaysia encourages a free press, and we certainly do not want to see a clampdown.

azlan However, the media should be responsible in their reporting.

“They cannot be too judgmental as to what is good or bad for the country,” he said.

“While I believe we cannot return to the old ways of the 60s and 70s which may be nostalgic, we must move forward and find a global solution to the present problems (plaguing the world) by working together rather than apart.

“We have to work together to make a better world,” he said.

Using the Palestinian issue as an example, Najib said this was a global problem where countries and the media should work together to resolve it.