KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to make several important announcements regarding the direction of the country’s media industry, at the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) celebration in Ipoh, Perak, tomorrow.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government has always been discussing the direction of the media industry, which is currently facing various pressures, including from the economic side as well as technological developments which are driving changes in the aspect of newspaper publishing.
“Economic pressure and this (technological) development have an impact on the sustainability of the media industry, and not least, the welfare of media practitioners, and all these aspects are indeed given attention by the government.
“Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at Hawana, and we can expect that there will be some important announcements will be made, especially about the direction of the media industry,” Fahmi said at a press conference after launching the logo and theme of National Day and Malaysia Day 2023 at Esplanade, KLCC Park, earlier today.
Issues related to the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council are also expected to be among the matters that will be touched upon at the Hawana celebration this time.
The three-day Hawana 2023 celebration, with the theme Media Bebas, Tunjang Demokrasi (Free Media, Pillar of Democracy), which aims to re-emphasise the issue of media freedom for journalists in carrying out their duties, began today.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to grace the highlight of the celebration tomorrow.
The date May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists’ Day, in conjunction with the publication of the first edition of the Malay newspaper, Utusan Melayu, on May 29, 1939.
— Bernama
