Najib Razak has urged the media play the role of an intermediary that delivers the feelings and aspirations of the people to the government.

The prime minister said the media should also report the grievances and criticisms levelled at the government to enable improvements to be carried out.

"We do not brush aside criticisms and reprimand, as long as they are intended for the good of the people, and based on facts.

PM Najib Razak speaks to the press outside the gutted administrative block of Metro Tabernacle church 2 "The news that we do not want, and the news that we should set aside, are false, defamatory, fabricated stories skewed towards the looming 13th general election," he said at the Umno general assembly 2012's Media Appreciation Night last night.

Wishing that Umno and media relations remain close and cordial, Najib said the media played an important role in reporting and disseminating accurate and correct news about the government.

"I always refer to the period close to the 13th general election as a silly season that is a season of many far-fetched stories being cooked up, in order to damage the image of the government in the eyes of the people," he said.

He said the success of a political party in helming the country and implementing policies in the interest of the majority of the people depended on the acceptance and trust of the people.

"That is why, the role of the media towards Umno is something that we always give serious attention to, because if we do not communicate well and effectively, then, what we do, even if it is good and intended to achieve a noble objective, can be interpreted negatively, or will not be received positively by the people.

"Here, lies the role of the media in reporting news about Umno, about the government, in fact, about all events in the country accurately, correctly and to provide an objective evaluation of things that had been done by political parties like Umno," added Najib.

Media awards

He described the facilities provided for media coverage during the Umno general assembly 2012, as the best-ever made with the participation of about 1,600 media practitioners from within and outside the country.

"I would like to thank all the media for portraying Umno's struggles truthfully, to be judged by the people," he said, adding that the current 3.2 million Umno members were ready to continue the party's struggles and survival as the ruling party.

"But, we realise that past successes are not something that would give us immunity in the future because there are parties that were in the same position as ours, but had already lost their power.

"That's why, I have always asserted that we must make internal changes and this is what we are doing, so that Umno is seen as a party that is always dynamic and relevant at all times.

"We resolve to defend the sanctity of Islam and the Islamic faith, we will continue to develop our economy, we will strengthen the party and the national unity based on the 1Malaysia concept, and champion the people," he said.

Media awards were also presented at the ceremony which was held as appreciation to the media for covering the Umno general assembly from Nov 27 to Dec 1, last year.

Berita Harian won the best Bahasa Malaysia news category while TV3 topped the best video news.

The Malaysian National News Agency ( Bernama ) took the third prize in three categories, namely best news (Bahasa Malaysia), best feature (Bahasa Malaysia) and best photograph.

The first, second and third prize winners received RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,000, respectively, besides a trophy and certificate.

Present were the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and wife, Noorainee Abdul Rahman, and Umno supreme council members.

- Bernama