“We turn rumours into facts – after triple-checking, of course.”
– Anonymous
AT long last, the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has been born; I thought I would not live to see this moment. Launched with due fanfare by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, at HAWANA 2025, its formation marks a milestone that many in the industry have been advocating for over five decades.
It is being hailed as a ‘historic moment’ for Malaysian journalism. The long-overdue promise of an independent, self-regulatory body to uphold media freedom, journalistic ethics, and public trust has finally materialised.
However, amid the applause and celebratory speeches, many of my fellow colleagues are asking if the MMC will truly live up to its noble mandate, or will it become yet another agency that toes the line, buckles under political pressure, and drifts from its founding principles.
We must begin by acknowledging that the very establishment of the MMC is, in principle, a blessing. For too long, the Malaysian media landscape has operated in a regulatory vacuum, overseen instead by a patchwork of archaic laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, and the Communications and Multimedia Act, all instruments with a long history of being used to intimidate, control and censor.
By contrast, the MMC is envisioned as a self-regulating body by and for the media. The Malaysian Media Council Act, passed earlier this year, lays out commendable objectives: to protect press freedom, promote responsible journalism and offer redress mechanisms outside of the courts.
On paper, it looks promising. But that is precisely why scrutiny must begin now, not later.
Because without vigilance, the MMC risks becoming little more than a glorified public relations arm, accountable not to journalists or the rakyat, but to the very power structures it is supposed to check.
The MMC must not function as merely a regulator. If all it does is issue warnings, suspends accreditations, or punishes violations, it will do nothing to uplift an already fragile media ecosystem.
The MMC’s real power must lie in its ability to protect. To protect the press from harassment, intimidation and political manipulation. To shield journalists from being dragged to court or detained without cause. To defend the constitutional right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution – and to do so fiercely, consistently and without fear or favour.
The Star senior news editor Philip Golingai, during the HAWANA 2025 media forum on June 14, posed the most important question: Will the MMC truly protect news organisations and journalists from political harassment, or will it simply be another toothless regulator? I share his concern.
It is a question every media professional should be asking. Because history is not on our side. Many well-intentioned bodies and institutions started out with noble visions, only to be co-opted, silenced, or made irrelevant over time. If the MMC becomes another compromised entity, then the 50-year wait has been for nothing.
Independence is not a label. It must be demonstrated in action, in structure and in leadership. The MMC’s credibility will rest squarely on how it conducts itself in the months and years ahead.
The composition of its founding board, as announced by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, appears reasonably representative. Media associations, practitioners, academics, and non-media members are all given a seat at the table. But care must be taken to ensure that no single media conglomerate or politically affiliated group dominates the council. Diversity in representation is critical, but so is balance.
Let it be made clear: No political party or politician should ever be allowed to influence the direction or decisions of the MMC. It must operate impartially, resisting all attempts at political interference, patronage or manipulation.
We already have enough agencies doing the bidding of those in power. The MMC must be different. It must be fearless. However, the question is: Will it dare to be different?
The MMC should not be content with policing bad journalism. It must go further; to rebuild public trust in journalism and empower the public to discern fact from fiction.
In this age of disinformation, algorithm-driven content, and AI-generated deepfakes, the average reader is bombarded with an endless stream of unverifiable content. As Centre for Independent Journalism’s Wathshlah Naidu rightfully observed, media literacy is a key public interest issue. An informed citizenry is a powerful defence against falsehoods, hate speech and propaganda.
The MMC must invest in educating the public, especially youth, on how to evaluate credible sources, identify misinformation, and understand the role of the media in a democratic society. This is not an optional add-on. It is central to the council’s mission.
Of course, no protection can come without responsibility. Media organisations and practitioners must also be held to high standards. Ethical journalism, factual accuracy, fairness and balance are not negotiable.
The MMC’s proposed code of conduct, once adopted, should apply to all member organisations, namely print, broadcast, digital, and independent alike. Complaints from the public must be handled transparently, efficiently and without favouritism. The credibility of the MMC depends on this.
But more importantly, redress must not always mean punishment. Where possible, the council should act as a mediator and arbitrator, encouraging accountability without resorting to legal or punitive extremes. A fair complaints mechanism is in everyone’s best interest.
There is a temptation in government and in regulatory bodies to focus on control rather than cultivation. But in the case of the media, the balance must always tilt toward protection. Malaysia already has a surfeit of laws capable of regulating the press. What we have lacked is a consistent protector of media rights and freedom.
The MMC must therefore position itself as a protector first, and a regulator second. It is a critical shift in thinking. In times of crisis, journalists should be able to turn to the council for support, legal defence, and advocacy. When faced with threats or intimidation, they must know that the MMC stands behind them.
Equally important is the question of financial sustainability. The media industry, like many others, has been ravaged by the twin pressures of economic downturn and digital disruption. Traditional business models are failing. Independent journalism is struggling to survive.
The MMC has a role to play here too. It should advocate for fair policies, funding opportunities, training programmes, and incentives that help media organisations adapt and thrive. It should collaborate with HRDF and other institutions to upskill journalists in emerging areas like AI, data journalism and digital security.
A weakened press cannot hold anyone accountable. If the industry collapses, so does democracy.
There are several dangers the MMC must avoid at all costs, like being becoming politicised, because once trust is lost, it cannot be regained; being dominated by a few powerful media players as this would silence smaller, independent voices; functioning as a passive observer – the MMC must act, not merely issue statements; and over regulating and stifling innovation since the digital era demands flexibility and openness.
Above all, it must never be seen as an extension of government control, or a ‘soft cop’ doing the state’s bidding under the guise of neutrality. We have waited for so long for this body. Let it not become a wasted opportunity.
MMC can be a transformative force if it remains rooted in integrity, driven by purpose and insulated from political interference. The stakes are too high for failure. Our democracy, our freedom and our future depend on a media that is free, fair and fearless.
It is time for the council to prove that it is not merely a regulatory council, but a true guardian of Malaysian journalism.
Let the council begin its journey with courage and let those of us in the media hold it to its promises.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at rajlira@gmail.com
