SIBU: Journalists should take good care of their health as their demanding profession often requires long hours and exposes them to various risks, said Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang.
He said journalists frequently worked under challenging conditions, including prolonged exposure to hot sun and rain, while sometimes putting themselves at risk when covering dangerous incidents.
“I want to emphasise the importance of your health. I know that you work long hours. You put yourselves at all kinds of risks while doing your jobs, and I am concerned about your health,” he said at the Sibu Journalists Association (SJA) HAWANA celebration here on Monday (Aug 17).
Tiang said he had seen journalists working under the hot sun without sunblock and in the rain without umbrellas, while some also entered dangerous situations, including fire scenes, without adequate protection.
Citing the recent shophouse fire in Jalan Khoo Peng Loong, he said reporters remained at the scene for several hours while the fire continued to burn.
He also recalled the sacrifices made by journalists during the COVID-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order, when they continued working on the front line alongside medical professionals and other frontline workers.
“We had no war here, but during those days, the front line was like a war zone,” he said.
Tiang pledged to sponsor health screenings for journalists in Sibu so they could assess their health and know whether they were fit and healthy.
“I would like to sponsor all of you for health checks. We will make arrangements for you to undergo health screenings so that you can know whether you are fit and healthy,” he said, drawing applause from SJA members.
He stressed that everyone should prioritise their health, particularly as they grew older.
At the same time, Tiang described the media as an important pillar of a democratic society, with journalists playing a vital role as watchdogs and the voice of the public.
“As you know, in a democratic country, there are three pillars of government, namely the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. But in a democracy, we also have a fourth pillar, which is the media,” he said.
He said the media operated as a power outside government by communicating official information to the public, providing a platform for people to express their views and scrutinising government policies and their consequences.
Tiang said journalists also played a crucial role in combating misinformation by verifying and re-verifying information before reporting it, stressing society would feel “blinded” if journalists stopped working, despite the widespread use of social media.
“What would happen if journalists stopped working for one week? Someone may use their phone to record an incident, such as a fight, and post it online. You may get the news through social media, but you are still not sure what exactly happened because you do not have a reliable source providing verified facts,” he said.
He said mainstream media journalists went to the scene, verified information and provided the public with reliable facts.
Tiang thanked journalists for reporting on developments and projects in his constituency, saying reliable coverage helped build public confidence.
Also present were Sibu MP Oscar Ling, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, SUPP Bawang Assan chairman Kelvin Lau and SJA chairperson Florence Nervyn and organising chairman Borhaniza Ali Basah.
