MP SPEAKS | Journalists play an important role in providing accurate information to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic and they, too, need to be categorised as "frontliners".

They play an important role in discarding fake news from the shelves of social media. They are out there to find the real news, statistics, new outcomes and present the current situation.

Although many media organisations now work from home, their journalists and camerapersons have to be out there to record the news.

The government and the Communications and Multimedia Ministry have to look into their plights and safety. It will be good for their welfare to be taken care of by the government, rather than depending on the media organisations they represent.

Businesses around the world are affected by this crisis, the same for media organisations. Advertisements were what generated funds for most media firms, and at this time not many advertisers will take a risk to promote their businesses. Media companies suffer from a lack of funds, like other businesses.

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (MCMC) must make sure that journalists, media staff and their families are fed during these moments of crisis.

Food, masks and sanitisers must be provided to journalists. We need to make sure news agencies do not collapse during this critical time.

Special funds should be allocated to those working out of their offices and to those covering Covid-19 news.

P PRABAKARAN is the MP for Batu and PKR Federal Territories Youth chief.

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