KUCHING: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill 2024 has been hailed as a groundbreaking step in Malaysia’s media landscape, signifying the culmination of over 50 years of negotiations to establish a dedicated media council.
Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, in a press statement on Thursday (Feb 27), commended the government, particularly the Communications Ministry, for its commitment to involving media professionals, especially the protem committee members, in the rigorous process of balancing diverse media interests.
“Although discussions on forming such a body date back to 1973, significant progress was only made in early 2023 with more structured deliberations,” he noted.
The Bill outlines the MMC’s functions, including setting media standards, formulating a code of conduct for practitioners, and ensuring ethical journalism, media independence, and the protection of media professionals’ rights.
Another major highlight of the Bill is the empowerment of the MMC to oversee ethical and professional conduct in the industry, fostering better communication between media practitioners, the government, and the public.
Furthermore, the MMC’s role in proposing reforms related to media independence laws , alongside its coordinating and facilitating roles in the training and professional development of journalists is said to yield significant benefits for Malaysia’s media industry.
