THE ROLE OF MEDIA & INFORMATION AGENCIES IN PROMOTING

NATIONAL INTEGRATION & UNITY IN A MULTI ETHNIC SOCIETY AS IN

MALAYSIA

INTRODUCTION

Malaysia is a small country which has a unique multi-ethnic. Ethnicity in Malaysia

can be traced back with the emergence of the Chinese during the Malacca Sultanate in
early 15th century and expended in 18th century when thousands of Chinese families
start to settle in Johor and Terengganu. During the British colonization, the large number
of immigrants of two major ethnic, the Chinese and Indian were brought to Malaysia.
Today there were more than 20 ethnic besides the 3 main races stretched from Peninsular
Malaysia, Perlis until to Sabah, East Malaysia.
According to the Oxford Dictionary defined that an ethnic is a group of people
sharing a common national or cultural tradition; denoting origin by birth or descent rather
than nationality; relating to race or culture. Therefore it is important for Malaysia to
ensure the unity and the integration of this multi-ethnic in order all ethnics could live in
this country with peace and harmony. The incident of major racial disputes on 13 May
1969, is a good lesson learnt for Malaysia to take measures and steps to avoid the
incident from repeated. One of the instrument used by the government is through media
and information agencies which played a important role in promoting national integration
& unity of this multi ethnic society. The media is an instruments of broadcasting as
conveying information to the public e.g. Poster, banner, New paper, Magazine, journals
TV, Radio, Internet whereas the information agencies are the body which responsibility
in giving public an information through electronic media.
As in Malaysia the media has started as early as 1805 in Penang with the introduction
of the newspaper “The Prince of Wales 'Island's Gazette". In 1876 the first Malay
Newspaper was known as “Jawi Peranakan", it was introduced in Singapore in 1876.
Whereas the first Chinese Newspaper, was introduced in Melaka in 1815 known as "The
Chinese Monthly Magazine". Before the independent the media used by colonial both
the Japanese and British mainly as propagandas, Psychological Operation and
Intelligence. Their aim is to win the heart and mind of the people to support the
government in era of war and combating insurgent but after the independent especially

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after the end of communist insurgent, the media played important role in the socio-
economic process building and as the agency for the national integration this multi-ethnic
country.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this paper is to highlight the role of media and information agencies in
promote national integration and unity in a multi ethnic society in Malaysia.

SCOPE

The scope of this paper will cover the following aspects:

a. Role of media and Information agencies

b. Measures and Steps to unite and integrate of Multi-Ethnic

c. Government policy in media

d. Challenges

e. Conclusion

ROLES OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION AGENCIES

In Malaysia the agencies involved directly with information were Ministry Of

Information and Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication. Whereas the agencies
such as National Unity Department, played important role as government tool in
implementing the government policies for strengthening national unity and integrating.
There were many roles that could be played by the media and information
agencies. However some of the roles are directly and indirectly promoting the unity and
integration of Malaysia citizens. Some the prominent roles of media and Information
agencies played were as follow:
a. As Agents Of Social Change
b. As Pro Peace And Agents Of Stability

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 c. Promote Government Policies And Visions
d. Coordinate In Promoting National Objectives
e. As A Agents And Instrument Of Tourism Industry

As Agents Of Social Changes. Making assured that only the good news and information
passed down and delivered to the public. A study made by Y.V.L. Rao, a young Indian
scholar has showed that all social change is accompanied by tension. But when change is
accomplished, tension is often relieved. Therefore the flow of information is of the
greatest importance in regulating the level of social tension. Communication is a kind of
temperature–controlling agent. It can raise the social temperature, for example, by raising
aspirations when the developing economy is not ready to satisfy them. It can reduce
temperature by providing explanation, holding out rewards, speeding up development by
permitting change, above all by making the people as well as the leaders heard.
The study made by Schramm found high correlation of 0.72 between a scale of
economic development and others scale representing the development of mass media
receiving and propagating systems in 100 countries. This prove that a high correlation
between the development of mass media and indexes of economic development. 1 The
amount of information available and wideness of its distribution is thus a key factor in the
speed and smoothness of development. If it is freely available competition for new jobs
and opportunities takes place in a climate of realistic knowledge rather than suspicion and
jealousy. If sufficient information is available, then it contributes to a spiral of
development activity. For example it helps farmers to improve methods and produce
more. It also helps some of the excess man power on the farms to transfer to other more
productive jobs. More productivity leads to improved income, to widening consuming
habits to increased economic activity within the area such as shops and restaurants, to
new appetites for consumer goods to a seeking after new opportunities and so on in a
chain of related development. The media also played an important in the process of
educating the public and society. The educated are able to read, get jobs, and talk about
many things. Reading is another symbol of prestige. Educated people make possible more
sophisticated industries This is true as in Malaysia the rate of literacy among the

1
Lerner The Passing Of Traditional Society. P. 63

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community is high and the availability of news and information that make better chances
of economic and social development and in return keep the nation community in good
state and harmony.
The mass media has a bigger role in social change. However the social change
occurs are not due to the increasing of the number of radios, news paper, and cinemas.
Merely multiplying messages and channels is not enough but the programs that will
attract the public for instance a question-and-answer program on radio program has
proved to be very useful. Another example such as the combination of radio broadcasts
with group discussion in rural forums has been very helpful in bringing about changes to
the society.
In the service of national unity and integration, the mass media are agents of
social changes. The specific kind of social change they are expected to help accomplish is
the transition to new dimension of though, customs and practices and in some cases to
different social relationships. Behind of this such changes lie substantial changes in
attitudes, beliefs, skills and social norms.

Media as Pro Peace and Agent of Stability. One cannot denied that the important of
media and its agency to create prosperity society through media. The media agencies
create programmes to bring people of different races together. It also serve the
community with providing news, views, information, ideas based on the following
ground:
a. National aspirations
b. Civic Tolerance
c. Peace & Harmony

Therefore the mass media thru the information agencies are an integral and
functional part of the developmental communicative processes towards to knowledge
citizens and Civic Society.

Promote Government Policies And Visions. The mass media is important in relay the
government policies. It is the media obligation in passing the positive information and

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educating the public for the government policies and visions. Media has important role in
the national development thus it give great impact to the unity of community and multi
ethnic such in Malaysia. The public demands to be informed on reports and news in their
environment of immediate vicinity and in distant areas. Therefore the media played an
important role in ensuring only the truth and precise news and information been passed
down to the public. It also promotes tolerance and given good examples of peaceful co-
existence work. This could be done through advertisements in the TV during the
commercial break, Radio or perhaps in the news papers.

Coordinate In Promoting National Objectives.

Another responsibility of media is to coordinate for the national objectives
through enlightening the public so as to make it capable of self-government, self guarding
the rights of the individual by serving as a watch dog toward the government, servicing
the political system by providing information, discussion and debate on public affairs.
Media has great influence in serving the economic system, primarily the bringing
together the buyers and sellers of good and services through the medium of advertising.
Media is also responsible in providing entertainment and infotainment to targeted groups
in achieving the main national objective, integration of the multi ethnic.

As A Agents And Instrument Of Tourism Industry. The media agencies were also had
help the government in motivating tourism industry. The media able to help the Ministry
culture and tourism in giving the positive view of the country that promote the tourists to
pour into this country. Therefore the media is indirectly has played a very important part
to increase the vacancies and job opportunities in the tourism sector. Thus, help the
government in stabilize the socio-economic among the citizen and finally help for the
national integration among the community2.

MEASURES AND STEPS TO UNITE AND INTEGRATE OF MULTI-ETHNIC

The mass media inclusive the electronic and press could be the important agencies
in channeling information in strengthening the multiethnic in Malaysia. According to the

2
Berita Harian “ Media Bantu Industri Pelancongan” 23 Oct 2003

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President of Media Working Committee (PANEL), Tan Sri Dr. Arshad Ayub said that
due to the role of media in delivering information to the public therefore it’s act as an
agent in ensuring whether the fall or advancement of the national unity. In order to
maintain the unity among the public every facts of the news and information passed to
the public should be fast and precise so that public will have a correct and clear picture
on issues particularly on the sensitive issues.
Malaysia have a unique multiethnic that couldn’t found in others country or
perhaps in this world and it strength is laid to the national integration & unity. This
strength could be weakening if no efforts have been made in maintaining it. Therefore it’s
the mass media responsible for not reporting any news which could lead to the ethnic
sensitivity especially that could jeopardize that unity and ethnics integration. Therefore
the Government with cooperation of Ministry of Information and National Integration
Department (JPN) had laid down several steps in boosting up the public integration.
Some the measures and steps such as media viewing the reports and article on every
different ethnic culture, advertisements activities on civic society, civic minded and good
manners. This reports and activities would finally lead to the harmony society and good
citizens3.
However in maintaining the strength of national unity is not only lay on the media
shoulder alone. Both the civic society and media should work together to play their role
in passing information to the people and helping to create awareness on issues.
Information should be passed on the people and media can help civic society
representatives to achieve their objectives. In the other hand, the civic society can in their
own way ensure the progress of the media. The media have to remain as conduit to pass
information from the establishment to the people and vice versa4.

GOVERNMENT POLICY IN MEDIA

Malaysia is serious towards unite and integration of the multi-ethnic. This is
because the strength of the Malaysia is greatly depending to the unity of public and
citizens. Censorship may mean many things but in its broadest definition if not “black-
out” may be censored or altered due to its national security for fear that the information
3
Berita Harian “Media Ejen Perkukuh Perpaduan Nasional”4 May 2002
4
NST “Media and society should work together,say esitor”26 Mar 2003

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may cause the public unrest in some way. Thus, the government has set the rules and
guidelines for the journalist and reporter to abide. The rules and regulation are important
for government as a mean of controlling the news that spread to the public. As more than
not the media often concerned with an exciting news story that will sell, without cause
the news caused public unrest among the community. This of course would give negative
impact to the National Unity and integration.
One of the 13 Strategies in the Long Planning Strategy of Ministry of Information
2002 -2012 has clearly stipulated used of media in maintaining and unite of national
integration among the races. Therefore the government is very concerned on the media
and its news that spread among the public. In Malaysia, there were numbers of code of
conduct for media and their role in nation building, promoting harmony between races
and strive towards national integration, and to uphold the value of a democratic, tolerant
and liberal society. Essentially, these codes are reminders pertaining to:
a. Rules of reporting
b. Editorial opinions and comments
c. Privacy of individuals
d. Publishing of pictures
e. Racial stereotyping
f. Confidentiality and protection of sources
The Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 prohibits the possessions and use of
printing press without a license and that licenses granted under the Act is valid for a
period of 12 months. Under section 13 of the Act, the Minister is empowered to
revoke/suspend a license or permit if the printing press is used for printing any
publication which is prejudicial to public order / national security. The Acts impose in
Malaysia regarding the press or publications were as follows:

a. The Sedition Act (1948)

Prohibits public comment on issues deemed as sensitive, racial and religious
matters
b. The Official Security Act (OSA) - 1972
c. Defamation Act (1957)

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 d. The Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Act (1998)5
The government also had listed the media ethics as guide and references for the
journalists in carrying out their duties and responsibilities: The guidelines of the media
ethics were as follows:
a. Accurate. Accuracy in writing and reporting is fundamental. An inaccuracy in
writing may lead to problems and legal implications. There will be no
compromise in this aspect.
b. Brief. A good report is one that is brief and compact. This made reading easy to
understand. Thus it is the responsibility of the writers to prepare text that is easy
to be understood by the readers.
c. Clear. A good written work is one that is clear. Clear writing is a result of a clear
mind and would thereafter result in the message to be clearly put forward to the
readers.
d. Direct to the point. Writers need to go straight to the point in their writing and not
long-winded.
e. Easy. The word easy signifies easy to read and easy to understand. A good writer
discusses things in an easy manner of understanding.

CHALLENGES

There were several challenges faced by the media agencies in the process of national
integration. The most prominent challenges that accounted by the Malaysia media are the
as follows:
a. Most of the private media agencies are interested in making profit through media
business. Currently, there were 6 TV stations namely TV3, TV7, TV8 and ASTRO
besides mainstream media agencies TV1 and TV2. About 90 % of these TV station
programs were more towards entertaiment and little effort on the national integration.

b. Abuse of using computer and internet give a negative impact to Malaysia citizens.
Too much of attention to internet make our citizen especially the teenage do not
interact each others any more. As a result the citizens especially in Malaysia were
5
Assoc Prof Dr. Azizah Hamzah “Communication is not aPerfect Science” University Malaya, KL

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 towards self centered and interest. This phenomenon is dangerous to the national
integration and to be civic society. Therefore this is one of the factor that force the
government to introduce national service so that the national unity and integration
back to it track.

c. Journalist at mainstream publications tend too much accommodate to the political

culture in which they operate. Usually mainstream media are owned and/or controlled
by either the state or the socio-economic elite. This caused most the news that they
portrayed towards personal interest and as the results the public do not have the
accurate information.

CONCLUSION
Media played important role in integration of multiethnic in Malaysia. The media
and information agencies have great influenced among the public in Malaysia. Therefore
media have an impact to the national integration and this make the government controls
the spreading of news and information among the public. The programmes been control
to avoid tension among the races. In the process of doing this the government imposed
the codes and Acts for the media to follow as guidelines. This Codes & Acts used for
controlling purposes. The Journalists are also obliged to support development in giving
the good news and discard the negative news. Bad news in the developing country as
Malaysia will only damage economic growth or drive away investors and finally effects
to the sosio-economic. Therefore media could exercise their roles and tasks to ensure the
cohesion and the national integration among the Malaysia citizens.