KUALA LUMPUR, November 12 – Social media users must be more careful towards the sensitivity and validity of messages, especially those related to health issues, before they are disseminated.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the social media plays an important role in the context of disseminating information fast, but if it is abused it could cause confusion in the society.
“There are messages which are erroneous and fake, for example Ebola which was detected in this country several months ago, which only created panic among the people,” he said when speaking at the 2014 Health Ministry Media Awards, here, Tuesday.
In the meantime, Dr Subramaniam also praised the media for carrying out its role to impart information successfully which had influenced the people into adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Malaysian national news agency features desk journalist, Sakini Mohd Said won the consolation prize for the Malay Newspaper-Best Health Journalism category.
Sakini, 31, of Penang took home RM1,000 cash and a certificate with her article titled ‘Sleep Problems, Risk Of Involvement In Accident’ which she wrote last year.
– BERNAMA
