Latest news with #integrity
Free Malaysia Today
21 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Integrity and quality the key to media success, says FMT chairman
FMT executive chairman Nelson Fernandez says 'technology without content is meaningless'. PETALING JAYA : Media companies should focus on maintaining their integrity and building influence to remain relevant, says FMT executive chairman Nelson Fernandez. Fernandez said this would help companies survive in an industry witnessing stiffer competition and shrinking revenues. Nelson Fernandez ,FMT executive chairman. Media companies faced an uphill battle against the explosive growth of social media platforms, which had taken a lion's share of advertising revenue, he said. They should ensure that their priority remains on producing high quality content. 'We can have all the technology in the world but if you don't get your content right, nobody is going to come and pay attention to you or read you or watch you,' he said at a forum on media and nation-building, held in Cyberjaya on Thursday. Fernandez said that the key to earning the reader's trust lay in being accountable and honest about mistakes made. 'I don't profess to say that FMT does everything right. But if we ever make a mistake, we have no qualms in apologising and admitting that we did it wrong,' he said. 'This whole business of trust is something you earn.' 'We are not in this business to make money because there's not much money to be made. The only currency we have is influence,' he said Fernandez said social media had the power to create overnight sensations. However, 'technology without content is meaningless,' he said. 'We make sure that our content is uniquely Malaysian so that it appeals to our audience.' Khalid Ahmad, former chairman of TV3 and NSTP. Khalid Ahmad, former chairman of TV3 and NSTP, said that media companies should capitalise on the relatively inexpensive media tools to deliver compelling content. He said creativity is needed for a company to stand out in the media landscape. 'In the end, presentation is what matters.' Policy on social media Namanzee Harris, CEO of TV Al Hijrah, urged the government to draft a national policy on social media platforms to ensure local media companies are not held at the mercy of technology companies. Namanzee Harris, CEO of TV Al Hijrah. Namanzee was referring to TikTok's ban on 23 local media accounts in February (later lifted) after they reported on a sexual assault case involving a minor. Namanzee said the incident had exposed the dependence of media companies on social media platforms over which they have no control. 'The idea of needing to go directly to TikTok for answers is deeply concerning. Sustainability in the media sector can only be secured through structured national policy,' Namanzee said, pointing out that countries such as the United States, Indonesia and China were already taking proactive steps.
CNA
2 days ago
- General
- CNA
Be shrewd about motives of people who seek to get close to you: PM Wong to PAP MPs
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said every Member of Parliament from the ruling People's Action Party must uphold rigorous standards in both their public and private lives and should never compromise them. In a letter on the rules of prudence, typically issued after each General Election, the prime minister also urged them to be "shrewd" in assessing the motives of those who seek close ties. Nasyrah Rohim reports.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore PM Wong warns lawmakers on perceptions of impropriety
By Chanyaporn Chanjaroen (Bloomberg) — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told ruling party lawmakers to be vigilant in their interactions to avoid perceptions of impropriety. In a letter laying out so-called Rules of Prudence for the People's Action Party's parliamentarians after the 3 May general election, Wong said they should separate their public political position from private, professional or business interests, and be wary of potential conflicts. He also told them to be 'shrewd in assessing the motives of people' who try to get close to them. 'A few will seek to cultivate you to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour,' Wong wrote. 'Both in conduct and perception, you must stand above any hint of favour or influence.' The PAP won the election with close to 66% of the national vote, a wider margin than in 2020. A few days later, three of the newly-elected politicians defended themselves after photos from around 2020 showing them dining with a man who was convicted last year in Singapore's largest money-laundering case surfaced. Wong did not mention the case in the letter and has not publicly commented on the photographs. Last year, former transport minister S Iswaran was jailed for obtaining valuable items including tickets to musicals and for obstruction of justice. 'Gift hampers on festive occasions, dinners and entertainment, concert tickets, and personal favors big and small are just some of the countless social lubricants which such people use to ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obligated to them,' Wong said. Wong also urged MPs not to depend heavily on a few large donors and to check on the background of the donors. The PAP, whose distinct white outfits are meant to symbolise purity and its politicians' incorruptibility, has ruled the island since before the country's independence in 1965. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
'Be shrewd in assessing the motives of people who seek to get close to you': PM Wong to PAP MPs
SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament from the People's Action Party (PAP) must "be shrewd in assessing the motives of people who seek to get close to them", Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday (May 29) in a letter on rules of prudence traditionally issued after each election. In the eight-page letter, which remained largely unchanged from its last iteration in 2020, Mr Wong said that MPs will come across different types of people during their engagements. Many are altruistic, public-spirited individuals who will help "without wanting anything in return". "But a few will seek to cultivate you to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour," said Mr Wong. "Gift hampers on festive occasions, dinners and entertainment, concert tickets and personal favours big and small are just some of the countless social lubricants which such people use to ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obligated to them." "Both in conduct and perception, you must stand above any hint of favour or influence," the prime minister added. Earlier this month, private dinners involving convicted money launderer Su Haijin and ministers Chee Hong Tat and Ong Ye Kung made headlines after pictures of the gatherings circulated online. Mr Ong and Mr Chee issued a statement via their press secretaries saying they did not know Su, who was one of the 10 people convicted in the billion-dollar money laundering case last year. "The PAP government upholds a high standard of integrity and the ministers are determined to uphold this, even though in the course of their work, they may inadvertently come into contact with people who are later established to be unsavoury," the statement said. Separately, former transport minister S Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024, after pleading guilty to four charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids all public servants from obtaining any valuable thing from someone involved with them in an official capacity. These were for obtaining valuables from Singapore GP majority shareholder Ong Beng Seng and construction boss Lum Kok Seng while he held portfolios that had official dealings with the two men. Iswaran also pleaded guilty to one charge of obstructing justice by belatedly repaying the cost of a flight to Doha. BE PREPARED TO ENGAGE OPPOSITION: PM WONG The ruling PAP won in Mr Wong's first electoral test as leader of the government, securing 65.57 per cent of the national vote, improving on its 2020 performance by 4 percentage points. The party secured 87 out of 97 seats, with the remaining going to the opposition Workers' Party (WP). Two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats will also be taken up by the WP. Noting this, PM Wong, who is the head of the PAP, said: "The people have endorsed what we have done in our previous term, and given us a clear and strong mandate. "The PAP has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Now we must discharge this mandate with conviction and purpose – to tackle the concerns that preoccupy Singaporeans, and to ensure that Singapore continues to thrive in an increasingly turbulent world." The letter also outlined expectations of MPs' performance in parliament, with Mr Wong saying that PAP MPs should express their views frankly, whether for or against government policies. "Take ownership of causes or issues that you feel strongly about – whether they reflect the aspirations of your constituents or address broader national concerns. Champion the issues, and do so with conviction. Effective advocacy goes beyond speaking up," he said. He added that PAP MPs should be prepared to engage the opposition, and to also be ready for sharper questioning and debate in parliament. "EMBRACE SOCIAL MEDIA" Mr Wong also reiterated rules on the use of social media – which was a new addition in his predecessor Mr Lee Hsien Loong's letter in 2020. He told MPs to embrace social media, and make full use of the different platforms to let the public know about their work, share their views, and engage residents directly. "In doing so, always be mindful you are a public figure elected by your residents. Uphold decorum and ensure everything you post is factually accurate – this is an absolute requirement for us," he said, adding that every post they make will be permanently associated with them and the party. In the rest of the letter, he emphasised the need for PAP MPs to uphold the party's reputation for clean and incorruptible government. He also called on them to separate their public political position from private, professional or business interests, and to be wary of potential conflicts between these interests and their public duties as MPs. Concluding the letter, Mr Wong said: "The PAP has held our position in successive elections because our integrity has never been in doubt, and because we are sensitive to the views and attitudes of the people we represent." MPs must always uphold the high standards of the party, and not have lifestyles or personal conduct that will embarrass themselves and the PAP, adding that new MPs can pick up the "dos and don'ts" from their older colleagues.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Netizens hail ‘principled' Rafizi after Cabinet resignation
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli had said it would be inappropriate for a Cabinet post to be held by someone who was not a member of the party's central leadership. PETALING JAYA : Social media users have hailed Rafizi Ramli following his decision to step down as economy minister, describing him as a man of principles. X user 'jedimaster' said Rafizi had walked the talk. 'I respect Rafizi for this!' he added. 'Anxious for Malaysia' meanwhile said Rafizi was a 'man of his word', and praised him as mature for resigning directly after the Asean Summit. User 'A/D' said Rafizi was a rare breed of politician, and that this gave Malaysians hope. And 'Norjoharuddeen' described Rafizi as a man of honour and integrity, as well as an exemplary citizen. 'I am glad to see someone who would live up to his ideals. I will continue to support you in your fight to make this country a better place for everyone,' he said. Earlier today, Rafizi announced that he had resigned as economy minister, as he had promised to do if he was not re-elected as PKR deputy president. The two-term Pandan MP had said it would be inappropriate for a Cabinet post to be held by someone who was not a member of the party's central leadership. Rafizi was defeated by Nurul Izzah Anwar at the party polls last weekend. His resignation will take effect on June 17.
