Committee Discusses Approach Policies For Communications And Multimedia Issues

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The Communications and Multimedia Consultative Council (MPKM) met for the first time today as a platform for the government to discuss and get inputs from stakeholders in planning approaches and policies for communication and multimedia issues
Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who chaired the meeting, said MPKM had brought together representatives from three sectors, namely the government, business (private), and civil society
“The days of the government knowing everything is over. Therefore, we are establishing a close relationship between the government and other stakeholders, either a private entity or civil society
“In civil society, there are many components, including media, academics, professionals, women, youths, and so on,” he said in his speech at the opening of the meeting
According to the statement issued by the ministry in conjunction with the meeting, the setting up of MPKM was in line with the ministry’s objective of driving intelligence in the community
The ministry said it was also in tandem with its vision, which is to produce a connected, informed, creative, and digitally cultured society
“And all the ministry’s laws, policies, and programmes are vehicles to achieve those objectives,” he said
The MPKM comprises 15 members, including three from the ministry, namely Saifuddin as chairman, his deputy Zahidi Zainul Abidin as deputy chairman and ministry secretary-general Suriani Ahmad
The other MPKM members include Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka board of control chairman Awang Sariyan; former Sarawak State Secretary Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; 2019 National Journalist Award winner Johan Jaafar; former National Space Agency director-general Mazlan Othman; and UEM Sunrise chairman Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa
Also in the MPKM are Third World Network Programme director Chee Yoke Ling; National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) chairman Danny Lee; Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (FOMCA) chairman Paul Selvarajah; and Malaysian Youth Council vice-president Kavita Mahendran
The other members comprise Sabah Institute for Development Studies chief executive officer Tany Kiob@ Anthony Kiob; Malaysian representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Eric Paulsen; and start-up development expert Mohd Razin Muhammad
Some of the MPKM members attended today’s meeting at the ministry by adopting social distancing while others joined in via video conferencing
At the meeting, Saifuddin also launched a competition for Malaysian youths aged between 18 and 30 to contribute ideas and suggestions through the “Ideas4KKMM” for the improvement of the ministry’s 2019-2023 Strategic Plan
He said the 10 best ideas, conveyed through essays not exceeding 750 words and accompanied by infographics or pictures, would be chosen to receive special prizes
“I will also invite them to a special meeting with me so that I can get to hear the youths’ views on the ministry
Entries can be submitted through the KKMM website https://www.kkmm.gov.my/awam/ideas4kkmm
- Bernama

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