Kota Kinabalu: The media plays a vital role in building public confidence in higher education institutions. Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Md Mansor said the media helps highlight the achievements of researchers, student successes, community contributions and UMS’ reputation at both national and international levels.
“In an era where information travels at lightning speed and perceptions are often formed before the truth is revealed, the role of mainstream and professional media serves as a primary bastion of transparency and truth.
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“Last year was a challenging period for UMS, during which we faced a water supply crisis that directly impacted the welfare of the campus community. At the same time, there were dynamics of student activism and several issues that went viral on social media, which indirectly tarnished UMS’s reputation.
“While we faced that difficult period, the media played a significant role by demonstrating high professionalism and a commitment to journalistic ethics, choosing to verify facts, providing space for the university to explain the actual situation and reporting issues in a balanced manner rather than based on emotion and sensationalism.
“This is what distinguishes integrity-driven journalism from the irresponsible dissemination of information,” he said at the UMS Media Friends Appreciation Ceremony 2026 here Sunday.
His speech was read by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Raman Noordin.
The event was attended by 80 media practitioners.
Dr Kasim said UMS bears the responsibility not only to generate knowledge but to bridge the gap between reality and society.
“Our research findings, expert opinions and academic contributions must be communicated in a concise, logical and engaging way so they can be understood by the community.
“This is where the synergy between the university and the media becomes crucial; we need the media to help translate academic language into the language of the people, while the media requires institutions like UMS to provide sources of information that are authentic, authoritative and of high integrity,” he said.
