KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Nov 2008: Although online news is more popular with the Malaysian youth due to its fast updates and interactive discussion forums, it has its downside, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said today.
“At times, internet news or blogs can be mischievous and be used as vehicles for rumour mongering and are not the gospel truth,” he said in his opening speech at the Fourth University of Ballarat Malaysian Graduation Celebration here.
“I’m reminded by the words of G M Travelyan, the English historian, and I quote: ‘Education has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading’.
“This raises the question as to whether graduates have in parallel acquired attributes which are not taught as formal courses but are equally important.
“I refer to the personal qualities of being caring, ethical and socially responsible in everything we do and in everything we see and read and how we express ourselves in speech and writing,” said Shabery who looked resplendent in an academician’s robe.
He said it was very important for a person to be able to differentiate and distinguish between what is worth reading and what is intended to mislead.
Shabery also touched on the importance of developing Malaysia’s human capital to achieve the goal of a knowledge society and a developed nation by 2020, especially in light of the current global economic crisis.
He also said that Malaysia had also exceeded the target of 50,000 foreign students by 2010 in the nation’s aim of becoming a global education hub. — Bernama
