KUCHING, Feb 12 2026: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president Dr Sim Kui Hian has cautioned that misinformation, incomplete narratives, and emotionally charged headlines can easily weaken public confidence and disturb social harmony.
He said in such an environment, responsible journalism is more important than ever.
“Social media platforms have undoubtedly strengthened communication among diverse communities and amplified voices across society,” he said at the SUPP media appreciation night tonight.
“At the same time, the social media platforms play a powerful role in shaping public perception and, in some cases, influencing important outcomes,” he stressed.
Dr Sim, who is also the Deputy Premier, said that he also observes that while online newspapers continue to grow, traditional media still maintains its relevance.
“However, for younger generations, especially Gen Z, platforms such as TikTok, Xiao Hong Shu, Instagram, and others have become their primary sources of news, often surpassing television and radio.
“This changing media landscape reminds us that how information is presented matters as much as the information itself,” he said, adding that “very often, we see the same story reported with very different headlines — even within the same country.
“One angle may come from West Malaysia, another from Sarawak. Yet, the audience sizes are vastly different.
“One side reaches over 31 million readers nationwide, while Sarawak’s voice reaches only about three million,” he said, adding that this imbalance makes it even more important for stories, state’s perspectives and its contributions to be told accurately and fairly.
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