MALAYSIA, KUALA LUMPUR, June 14, 2025 – A free, ethical, and authoritative media is a cornerstone of a mature democracy, said Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, emphasizing the need to balance technological advancements with human values in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2025, Anwar stressed that Malaysia’s MADANI vision prioritizes truth, justice, moral values, and social responsibility over the blind pursuit of technology.
“We aim to reach the skies but remain rooted to the ground,” he said, underscoring the importance of grounding progress in ethical principles.
To strengthen the nation’s media ecosystem, the government has allocated RM30 million to drive digital transformation and enhance journalists’ and media organizations’ capabilities. The funds will support training, technology exposure, and infrastructure development to equip media practitioners to tackle challenges like information overload, defamation, and digital perception manipulation.
Anwar called for Malaysian journalists to be globally competitive while upholding ethics and truth. He rejected both “manufacturing consent” and “manufacturing dissent,” urging responsible criticism that aligns with social accountability.
Expressing gratitude to media practitioners, Anwar hailed their role as information disseminators, discourse catalysts, power balancers, and champions of Malaysia MADANI’s reform and development agenda.
