Gerakan Youth has called on the different language newspapers in the country to foster greater mutual understanding and respect for each other.

Youth chief Lim Si Pin said there seemed to be a growing trend of misunderstanding amongst the different language newspapers, which would not benefit the nation.

He said each language newspaper had its own clique of readers to disseminate information in the best possible way.

“But we hope that their quest to reach their readers will not cause any suspicion amongst the various races or disrupt racial harmony,” Lim said in a statement, adding that playing up race issues would not bring good to the country.

Lim said there had been some articles lately in Utusan Malaysia, which created an impression that the Chinese newspapers had gone “overboard” in their articles.

Lim said the articles in Utusan Malaysia were not helping Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to propagate his 1Malaysia vision.

He said while Gerakan Youth respected freedom of the press and freedom of expressions by journalists, writers and individuals, this “freedom” should not be allowed to be exploited by those who have hidden agenda.

Lim said the media must play a responsible role to help achieve national unity instead of the other way.