KUCHING: Credible media practitioners have become indispensable in safeguarding accurate and trustworthy information for the public amid escalating information overload and the spread of misinformation, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Sim said the rise of social media has led to an infodemic, where an overwhelming volume of content makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and falsehood.
“Nowadays, everyone is a social media star. Even a passerby with a camera can make someone famous just by being at the right place at the right time,” he said at the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) Chinese New Year dinner here on Wednesday (Mar 18).
While acknowledging that greater public participation in sharing information can be positive, he stressed that it also raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of what is being circulated.
“There is just so much information. The question is — is it the right information, the correct information? That is something we must be very good at discerning,” he added.
Dr Sim pointed out that misinformation and conflicting narratives — including false claims and misidentification of global figures — reflect how easily confusion can spread in today’s digital environment.
“If even those active on social media are confused, imagine the general public. The level of confusion is even greater,” he said.
He also highlighted the persistence of online scams despite years of public awareness, noting that many continue to fall victim to fraudulent schemes.
“Scams have been going on for years, yet people are still getting cheated out of hundreds of thousands. It shows that information alone is not enough — credibility and trust matter,” he said.
Dr Sim emphasised that professional journalists have a critical responsibility to uphold standards of accuracy and integrity.
“Your profession is more important now than ever before. You must be the credible source that people can believe in.
“The journalists in Sarawak must play their role in supporting the state’s development, particularly as it continues its journey of nation-building.
“Sarawak is at a time of nation-building. All of us must play our role. If we don’t do it, no one else will help Sarawak,” he said.
He also cautioned that many narratives circulating on social media in the country are increasingly misleading or entirely false, especially with the rise of AI-generated deepfake content.
“Every Sarawakian must stay vigilant in our Sarawak nation building as many of the social media in Malaysia at best have neutral narrative but increasingly misleading headlines or not just unverified but upright wrong narratives with evil intentions,” said Dr Sim.
