The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill 2024 represents a monumental leap for Malaysia’s media landscape, marking the culmination of more than 50 years of intense dialogue and negotiation to establish a dedicated council for media affairs.
The Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) lauds the perseverance of the current government, especially the Communications Ministry, to involve media professionals, particularly the protem committee members, in the challenging journey of balancing diverse media interests for the establishment of the council.
Although the proposal for establishing such a body started in 1973, it gained significant momentum with earnest discussions starting in early 2023, a statement issued by MPI President, Datuk Yong Soo Heong, here today said.
The MMC Bill’s clarity on its various functions, such as setting standards, creating a code of conduct for media practitioners, and promoting the highest standards of ethical journalism, media independence, and the rights of media professionals is certainly groundbreaking.
The Bill’s provisions empowering the MMC to regulate the ethics and professional conduct of media practitioners signify a pivotal move towards self-regulation within the media industry. Additionally, the encouragement of communication between media practitioners, the government, and the public is a highly welcomed development.
In addition, the MMC’s ability to propose reforms related to media independence laws, alongside its coordinating and facilitating roles in the training and professional development of journalists will certainly yield significant benefits for the local media industry.
–WE