Dr Wee: Unite to fight fake news

The Star

11-07-2025

BEIJING: Established media outlets across nations must join forces to combat fake news and disinformation, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president noted that while the media holds tremendous power, it is also a double-edged sword.
'It can educate, enlighten and unify, but it can also be exploited to spread falsehoods, deepen misunderstandings and fuel divisions.
'Today, fake news, disinformation and sensationalist reporting can cross borders in seconds, turning civilisations that have co-existed for centuries into adversaries,' he said in his keynote address at the Contemporary World Forum here yesterday.
Themed Exchange and Mutual Learning Among Civilisations and the Role of the Media, the forum was also attended by MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, forum organiser Contemporary World Magazine's director-general and editor-in-chief Lue Xuejun, foreign dignitaries and media delegates.
Dr Wee stressed that in an age where information can either unite or divide, the media must act as a bridge between civilisations rather than a barrier.
'The media is not merely a mirror of society, but a bridge that connects people, cultures and ideas across distances,' he said.
Dr Wee is visiting China at the invitation of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee's Contemporary World Magazine, leading a delegation of 23 media professionals from 12 Asian and African nations under the theme Media Empowerment and Shared Prosperity.
The delegation is visiting key sites and companies to gain deeper insight into the historical foundations of Chinese civilisation as well as the major achievements and global opportunities arising from China's path to modernisation.
One of the highlights of the visit was the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilisations Dialogue, where delegates engaged with Chinese leaders and international representatives, led by CPC Political Bureau standing committee member Cai Qi and CPC International Department Minister Liu Jianchao.
Also joining Dr Wee were Chong as well as former Dewan Negara president and Star Media Group Bhd chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng.
Dr Wee said some 600 delegates from 144 countries participated in the inaugural two-day event, which featured leaders and dignitaries in plenary sessions.
'The dialogue was mooted by Chinese President Xi Jinping two years ago. I'm happy to be here to share my views,' he said.
Among the prominent former global leaders who spoke at the meeting yesterday were former Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri, former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama and former Belgian prime minister Yves Camille Desire Leterme.
Today, Dr Wee is scheduled to speak on Inter-Civilisation Exchanges and Mutual Learning: Global Development and Prosperity, while Wong will share his views on Inter-Civilisation Exchanges and Mutual Learning: Cultural Inheritance and Innovation.
Reflecting on Malaysia's multicultural identity, Dr Wee said the media has a special responsibility to foster understanding and accurately portray society's complexity, a duty that extends beyond borders when reporting on other cultures and civilisations.
In this regard, he called for stronger collaboration between Malaysian and Chinese media through shared reporting methods and cultural exchanges.
'The media must not be viewed solely as a commercial enterprise, but as a social institution that fosters dialogue, corrects misconceptions and amplifies the stories that unite us,' he said.
Dr Wee noted that MCA, through initiatives like the MCA Belt and Road Centre, has long promoted media collaboration between Malaysia and China.
He said recent joint projects have highlighted shared values, including coverage of Belt and Road Initiative projects and educational exchanges, which demonstrate how infrastructure and youth engagement can strengthen civilisational bonds.
Looking ahead, Dr Wee called for media partnerships to promote mutual learning, such as journalist exchange programmes, joint productions in Mandarin and English, as well as more youth-focused media literacy initiatives.
He noted that Malaysia, as a country of many cultures, religions and languages, is uniquely positioned to show how different civilisations can co-exist and prosper.
'Our media institutions, like The Star, reflect this diversity by telling stories that connect, not divide,' he said.
In his speech, Chong highlighted the media's evolving role in a fractured information landscape.
Drawing inspiration from Admiral Zheng He's historic voyages to Melaka, Chong likened the press to a modern 'treasure fleet' navigating the digital seas.
'It carries truth, cultural wisdom and empathy, which are the building blocks of a modern Information Silk Road,' he said.
Chong also cautioned that digital manipulation and AI-generated content are turning the global information space into a battlefield.
'These tools are increasingly weaponised to marginalise non-Western narratives. Media empowerment is now a geopolitical necessity.'
He called for ethical AI in fact-checking, stronger digital literacy and the protection of independent journalism.
'Above all, we must dismantle media hegemony and amplify voices from the Global South. When one worldview dominates, truth itself becomes collateral damage.'
As Malaysia and China celebrate 51 years of diplomatic relations, Chong urged both nations to lead the way toward a fairer and more pluralistic media order.