“Media”, according to the Oxford dictionary, is the means of mass communication (television, radio, newspapers, magazine etc.) regarded collectively. From this single definition, it is safe to say that media is a means of “transportation” to carry information, from a particular source, to the mass public. This information can be about anything. It could be really important news like the riot in Egypt, or not so important ones like a celebrity clipping the nails of his girlfriend. But whatever it is, the role of the media is clear – to tell.
How powerful the media really is? Is it just to tell people what had happened in the past and present? Is media really a mere entertainment? No. Media is so powerful that the rise and fall of a nation depends on it. Every single powerhouse depends on the media. They would not be where they are right now if not because of the media. The media has a direct impact on the lives of people. This is concurrent with the “hypodermic needle theory”, more widely known as the “magic bullet theory” that states that media has a direct, immediate and powerful effect on its audiences. Hitler monopolized the mass media during World War II to unify the German public behind the Nazi party. Yes. Media is that powerful.
Malaysia is not an exception when it comes to the role of media in the development of it. Back in the days, when Malaysia was still invaded by the Japanese, and even before that, Media has already started playing its role. The method may be different from what we see these days. There were neither radios nor television when Malaysia was in the golden era, when Malaysia was still known as Tanah Melayu and under the Malacca Sultanate. So how do the Sultans, back in the days, rule the people? How do the people know of what is right and wrong, and what the Sultan demands of them? Simple. The Sultans send out men to read out their orders to the public, same like what we have seen in the P. Ramlee movie, Nujum Pak Belalang. That is in a way, a kind of media, only in a different form.
During the Japanese invasion of Tanah Melayu, the people used newspapers, flyers and radios to spread out information, to call for a meeting, and ultimately rise against the Japanese. The Japanese saw the power of these media and raided houses to confiscate radios, worried that the people might use it against them. The people at that time may have lost many battles against the Japanese, but at least they tried. What matters is that the power of the media is proven, and is feared even by the mighty Japanese army.
After the invasions have ended, again we can see the role of the media in the live telecast of the declaration of independence by our late Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. Wherever the citizens of Malaysia were during the declaration, they were able to catch the live telecast of the declaration, and there were also announcements made in the local newspapers regarding the declaration.
In the present, the role of the media can be seen throughout everything – from advertisements encouraging tourism in Malaysia, education, sports, politics, entertainment and so much more. even the 1Malaysia campaign is nothing if it were not because of the media. The current Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Haji Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak also depend on the power of the media to bring this multiracial country to a unity via the 1Malaysia campaign. If it were not because of the media, he would be going through so much trouble travelling here and there in the effort of spreading his words.
The media has evolved from prints and televisions, to the widespread use of the internet. And as the saying goes “with great power comes great responsibility”; this so called power of the media is sometimes misused by the public. Propagandas were spread on the internet via blogs and social networks. Libel and defamation are now common terms that we can hear in our everyday life. Rumors spread like mushrooms do after the rain has come. Even great thinkers have their hands full just thinking of a way on how to explain and counteract the rumors that have spread. Just like the “magic bullet theory” explains, the media has a direct, immediate, and powerful effect on its audiences. There are no more “two sides” of a story. One single story can be heard in numerous versions – some say this, some say that, but not a single one can be confirmed.
We learn from our mistakes like a Malay saying that goes “sudah terhantuk baru terngadah”. The government slowly tries to find a suitable solution to the libel and defamation problems. The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission is an example of the steps that the Malaysian government has taken to curb problems that are caused by the media. In other words, these problems – libel, defamation, sedition – also contributes to the nation building, by enacting laws and regulations, making sure that there will be less loopholes in the Malaysian media law.
The media and the sum of its parts clearly have so much power – powerful enough both to build and destroy a nation. It has now become the vein of communication, transporting the blood vessels of information from the heart (source) to other parts of the body (audience). Malaysia would not be where it is now if it is not because of the media; and you will not be reading this article if it is not because of the media.
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