By Izzud deen Redzuan
GOMBAK, 15 April 2016: A forum on ‘Media Lebih Bahaya Daripada Pengganas’ (Media is More Dangerous than Terrorism) held recently at the Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT), had drawn a full house attendance from university students.
It is organised by Kuliyyah of Languages and Management Students’ Society (KLMSS) in conjunction with KLM Media Week 2016 to improve the knowledge on the importance of media and how its works, at the same time to promote its official website to the public.
Three panelists were invited to discuss the topic on better understanding of the media. They were Nadzrin, a communication lecturer, Fithree Abdullah, Vice President 1 of Law Students’ Society, and Amnah Duniya, Vice President of Student Representatives Council. The Chairperson of Sports and Recreation, Secretariat of SRC, Fikri Nawawi, was the moderator.
The forum was conducted to raise awareness among KLM students about the importance and benefits of social media – to interact, and to share knowledge and ideas with other students around the world.
In his speech, Nadzrin stated that the channel is an integral part of media; how specific medium is used to reach intended audience. “Back to years ago, media were strictly controlled by the its sender to protect the message. Unlike now, everyone can have their own media to express their thought and idea,” he said.
“Hence, the media may bring negative connotations towards its audiences by altering their perceptions and mindsets towards something in a split of second.”
Fithree Abdullah, a law student, emphasised that there was a need for government to control the media contents to protect the society from virtual harm. Otherwise people can freely express themselves based on their interests and affecting the feelings and sensitivities of others.
Apart from that, Amnah Duniya suggested there is a way not to be easily influenced by the contents of social media especially the negative ones by applying the concept of ‘tabayyanoo’ – there is a need to clarify the information first before accepting the news, according to Surah Al-Hujurat 49:6.
As the receiver, we have the capability either to receive, to reject, to withhold, or to accept any idea that fits into our preferences and inclinations. Attendees were asked to choose wisely what they want to post on social media and the source of information they want to read.
Ultimately, Nadzrin concluded, it is all about self-consciousness even though we have a set of perspectives and bias towards our preferences. We need to be objective in seeking the true information and we are responsible on what we do, on what we write and post in the social media.
The forum ended with a brief speech by Ainil Izyan, the Programme Manager of KLM Media Week and the launching of KLM official website by Prof. Dr. Noraihan Mat Daud.***
Photos taken by Zulhamka Rosli