BY MOHD ZAHID AHMAD ZAKI
KUCHING: The opening ceremony of the 11th World Radio Day Celebration was held at the Badminton Court of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) today to appreciate the importance of the platform in delivering authentic information.
Assistant Minister of Women, Child Development and Community Welfare Mohammad Razi Sitam said that the theme of ‘Radio and Confidence’ was appropriate as it was in line with the use of the platform.
“RTM plays an important role and is the main driver in the success of our country’s broadcasting agenda to deliver authentic information to the public.
“Therefore, radio is still relevant in Sarawak as an intermediary between communities with local leaders, thus acting as the right information channel to disseminate government policies to the people,” he said during the World Radio Day 2022 Celebration at the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Badminton Court, here, today (Feb 13).
He explained that the aim of the celebration programme was to make RTM better known for its field activities and to each out to its loyal spectators and listeners.
Through this celebration, good relations and cooperation with other agencies in an effort to help the needy can also be created such as the wheelchair donation made with the cooperation of Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).
Meanwhile, Sarawak State Broadcasting Director Nasrul Hakim Md Noh said the theme of the celebration was in line with the role and function of radio as one of the most trusted and accessible broadcasting media worldwide based on various international reporting.
“Trust in the field of radio journalism is a major challenge in the world of the digital age, when any production of free and high quality content demands media practitioners and users of social media platforms to continue to respect the basic ethical standards of journalism.
“To maintain or increase the trust of listeners, journalism must continue to be based on authentic information before it is shared, in the public interest and take full responsibility towards social development in order to build common prosperity,” he said.
Commenting further, he added that the important element in the field should also ensure inclusivity in the community without being sidelined in addition to being a reliable source to the community.
Therefore, he added, the radio field must remain competitive, especially in the face of the global crisis so that listeners would continue to have access to the media, thus increasing the number of listeners to ensure that radio was always relevant to society.
In the meantime, RTM also took the opportunity to continue its corporate social responsibility activities through the programme ‘Cakna Komuniti: Titipan Kasih, Sekalung Budi’ in cultivating the department’s community programme to reach out to listeners and residents, especially the needy.
This time, 13 wheelchairs were donated by SEB to be distributed to recipients among the elderly, disabled and former Sarawak Rangers.
