MEDIA practitioners and politicians are just like a family and need to cooperate with one another to reach out to the people, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“Whether we’re politicians or journalists, we must help each other in carrying out our responsibility to the readers, voters and the country,” Chow said in his speech at the first ever Penang DAP Media Appreciation Night at Hotel Royale Chulan in Weld Quay tonight.
“In the course of our work, we have to respect each other. We want to reach out to the people for their feedback.
“But for tonight, let us relax and enjoy each other’s company.”
To show his appreciation for their contributions as well as to convey his festive greetings, Chow said he visited nine media organisations yesterday.
He thanked Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Steven Sim, who is the Penang DAP publicity secretary, and Penang DAP secretary Senator Lim Hui Ying, for organising the Media Appreciation Night.
Later, Chow presented plaques to the representatives of various media establishments.
Sim said it was the sacred duty of everyone, including the press, to build this country together.
He added that in pursuing a national narrative, the media was an important platform to be the bridge for all races.
He called on the press to break away from traditional reporting by giving more coverage to other races other than their own base of readers.
“After the first six months of Pakatan Harapan’s administration, our press freedom ranking has climbed up by 22 spots.
“The press today is facing very challenging times. Tell us how we can deal with it and we will do our best to help,” said Sim.
The attendees had a ball of a time in the event, themed ‘Back to School’, which saw many of the adults donning school uniforms and arming themselves with school bags.
And in the karaoke session, the star of the night was undoubtedly Bernama reporter Jeffrey Goh Kok Guan.
Dressed in a Scout uniform, he delivered a very energetic song, titled ‘Mambo No 5’, made famous by Lou Bega and then went on to belt out ‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Gaga as the crowd cheered for an encore.
Stirred by his powerful songs, a group of fellow journalists went up the stage to join him and dance happily to the rhythm.
The Chief Minister was later called upon to take the mike and he sportingly sang two Cantonese songs – ‘A Brighter Future’ and ‘Love and Passion’ – with several people.
They included state executive councillor Chong Eng, Hui Ying, and assemblymen Teh Lai Heng, Lim Siew Khim, Ong Ah Teong, Daniel Gooi and Jason Ng.
In between the karaoke sessions, a variety of lucky draw prizes were also given out.