KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — Creative industry players should help Putrajaya to “defend” Islam and Malaysia against alleged attacks by foreign media, Communications and Multimedia Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Mohid Mohamed said today.
While launching a seminar on Shariah-compliant entertainment jointly-organised by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), Mohid said the industry can help produce media contents such as TV shows and films as a response to deflect the attacks.
“I urge the creative industry who are in this hall to join the effort to help the authorities in tackling foreign attacks and threats through media that cause uncomfortable and uneasy feelings towards the religion and country.
“We should publish and produce good media contents that can deflect these attacks,” Mohid said in his speech.
Mohid said his ministry will continue supporting the local industry in order to reduce Malaysia’s dependence on foreign-sourced content.
The two-day seminar starting today was also organised by Putrajaya-backed Institute of Islamic Strategic Research Malaysia (Iksim) that was formed last year.
In booklets distributed to participants, Iksim said among its core strategies are to spread awareness of Islam as “the religion of the country”, and to warn the public against secularism, liberalism and pluralism.
Mara and Iksim also launched a guideline on Shariah-compliant entertainment today that was also distributed to participants.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is currently under fire from foreign media over a money trail that showed US$700 million being channelled into what appeared to be his accounts.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin had suggested in July that allegations of graft against Najib through the foreign media was an attempt to weaken the Muslim community in the country.
