Media practitioners should avoid practising "armchair journalism" in efforts to deliver more accurate news to the public, Deputy Human Resources Minister Mahfuz Omar said.

He said inaccurate reports, particularly inappropriate news, would cause the community to feel uneasy and unsafe.

“Being informed and knowledgeable journalists, they should assist the government in delivering accurate information. The journalist has the responsibility towards the country,” Mahfuz said.

He said this in his speech at a dinner in Kuala Perlis last night to celebrate the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM), which was also attended by its Perlis branch staff and media practitioners in the state.

Also present were Kuala Perlis assemblyperson Noor Azam Karap, Indera Kayangan assemblyperson Gan Ay Ling and JTKSM deputy director-general (management and development) Paeza Rosdi.

"Armchair journalism" refers to news reports obtained by journalists from the newsroom without going out to the field to interview the sources.

Mahfuz said there were those who ventured into journalism solely due to their interest and have no journalistic basis that had resulted in them publishing sensational news.

“It is not wrong if we want to criticise the leaders, but it must be done with a sense of responsibility so that the people will not become the victims of inaccurate news and information,” he said.

He also urged media practitioners to assist the government in driving the country by disseminating the government’s programmes, so that all forms of information would reach the people.

- Bernama