CYBERJAYA, July 21 — The Madani Community plays a crucial role in assisting the government to deliver authentic information to the people, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
At the launch of the National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang 2024 campaigns today, Fahmi, also Unity Government spokesman, emphasised the need for the Madani Community to leverage its relationship with the Information Department (Japen) to effectively disseminate the government’s agenda.
He added that the Madani Community retreat, held in conjunction with the launch ceremony, brought together nearly 2,000 representatives from across the Peninsula, and involved a question-and-answer session with panellists.
“Our Madani Community members are from the grassroots. Earlier, during the question-and-answer session, they provided valuable insights, which we will relay to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, to address various aspects of concern,” Fahmi said.
He called on the Madani Community to gather and report issues affecting the public, in line with the decree issued by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for the government to continue efforts to alleviate the people’s burdens.
The Madani Community is a multiracial volunteer body, managed by Japen, with the aim of fostering noble values and nationhood among the people.
Fahmi reiterated the government’s firm stance on addressing social media-related issues, including the proliferation of fake news, scams, and, more recently, cyberbullying, which has tragically led to a suicide.
He directed Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, to take decisive action to prevent these social media problems from escalating further.
“Tan Sri Mohamad Salim,” Fahmi said, addressing him in the presence of Anwar, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, and Cabinet members, “I am instructing you to do something.
“From now on, all social media platforms must assume responsibility, and we will take decisive action in the coming days. Let’s work together to ensure safety, particularly for children and families. Rest assured, the government’s goal is to make our internet not only more affordable and accessible but also safer for everyone,” Fahmi said.
On the economic front, Fahmi said the country’s economic indicators remain promising, expressing optimism that Malaysia’s gross domestic product will exceed the initial growth forecast, of 4 to 5 per cent, for this year.
This optimism follows the Statistics Department’s forecast of a 5.8 per cent growth in the second quarter of 2024, up from 4.2 per cent the previous quarter.
“Malaysia is also on track to attract more investment and trade,” Fahmi added.
“The recent upgrade of Malaysia’s rating by JP Morgan, to ‘neutral’ from ‘underweight’, after nearly six years, underscores the effectiveness of the government’s reforms, and the renewed confidence of investors,” he said.
— Bernama
