PM guarantees press freedom

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today assured media practitioners in the country that they are free to report any news but that the reports should be based on accurate and authentic facts.

In their role as disseminators of information, the prime minister said he believed media practitioners were aware of their limitations and responsibilities.

"The media must be responsible, which is to tell the truth, to provide true information. If the information is true, there will be no objections and constraints from the government on how the news is to be delivered," he told reporters during a visit to Media Prima in Sri Pentas, Kuala Lumpur, today. 

He also said the government’s guarantee of press freedom was reflected in its actions.

"If they go beyond what is allowed, the government will definitely reprimand them, (but) so far, no media (organisation) has been closed down or had its licence revoked.

"This means there is freedom of the press," he said.

Describing the role of the mainstream media as important for disseminating accurate information, the prime minister said the public should not only rely on social media for information.

"As we know, inaccurate and distorted information is being disseminated, causing people to be confused.

"That's why it's important for the mainstream media, such as TV3 and the print media, to provide accurate information that is not misleading," he said.