INITIATE.MY’s Courtesy Visits to The Star and Sin Chew Daily

Selangor, 23 October 2024 – INITIATE.MY conducted courtesy visits to The Star and Sin Chew Daily to explore potential collaborations in raising awareness on extremism, religious freedom, and tolerance.

At The Star, discussions focused on how the media can partner with INITIATE.MY to address growing concerns over far-right extremism and online hate speech. Hariati Azizan and The Star’s editorial team highlighted their role in moderating narratives and stressed the importance of responsible reporting on sensitive issues like extremism. Hisham Muhaimi, Project Coordinator at INITIATE.MY, shared the organisation’s latest research findings on far-right extremism, emphasising the growing influence of online platforms in spreading divisive content. 

The visit to Sin Chew Daily centred on the media’s role in shaping public understanding of these critical issues within Malaysia’s diverse societal landscape. Kuik Cheng Kang from Sin Chew Daily reaffirmed the publication’s commitment to highlighting positive stories of interfaith and intercultural collaboration. He invited INITIATE.MY to contribute research and insights that could support their efforts to foster an inclusive and harmonious society.

Both media outlets expressed strong interest in using their platforms to amplify INITIATE.MY’s advocacy work. Discussions included utilising INITIATE.MY’s databases and reports to guide nuanced and balanced reporting on complex issues. INITIATE.MY emphasised the importance of engaging media outlets in multiple languages to reach diverse readerships and raise broader awareness. The organisation also recognised media as key stakeholders in its capacity-building initiatives, contributing to a whole-of-society approach to countering extremism and promoting religious freedom and tolerance.