MEDIA HELPS STRENGTHEN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES - BUKIT AMAN

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- The increasingly complex crime landscape requires the media to play an important role in assisting the authorities, said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar.

He said the evolution of crime from physical to digital, from local to cross-border in nature, as well as from isolated cases to more organised activities, has made cooperation between enforcement agencies and the media increasingly critical.

“We cannot deny that the crime landscape today is becoming more complex, and in this context, the media plays an important role, not only in conveying information to the public, but also in shaping public perception and the level of confidence in enforcement agencies, particularly the CID,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the CID iftar event with members of the media from the Crime Journalists Association (CiJA), at the Bukit Aman Officers’ Mess, here, today.

Kumar stressed that in reporting crime-related matters, the timing and approach in delivering information must be carefully considered to avoid affecting public interest as well as ongoing investigations, which could have major implications for the justice process and public safety.

“In carrying out this responsibility, we must realise that timing is everything. We need to be wise in assessing what should be said and when the most appropriate time is to convey it, so that public interest is not affected.

“As we work together to deliver information to the community, we must also evaluate the current situation, public sentiment and the choice of words used in conveying such information,” he said.

--BERNAMA