KULAI – The unity government supports efforts to preserve the independence of the media through the proposed establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC), said Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She said that MMC would also provide checks and balances for the unity government once established.
“Certainly (the government supports media freedom), but the media must exercise responsible reporting to prevent conflicts because sometimes we receive complaints from the public. For example, pictures of underage children being published, fake or biased news not being responsibly reported – they must be held accountable for these.
“However, if the government takes action against the media, questions of whether there is a motive behind it will be raised. So, it is better to establish an independent body for the benefit of the local media industry,” she told reporters after attending the IOI Putra Charity Run programme here today.
The Kulai MP said this when asked about whether the establishment of the MMC would entirely guarantee the freedom of the local media or would have the opposite effect.
Therefore, Teo hopes that the bill for the establishment of the MMC will be tabled in Parliament this year so that efforts to establish the council can be realised as soon as possible.
She added that the establishment of the MMC, which the industry itself will manage, will also improve the image and credibility of local media agencies among the general public.
“When the media is held accountable for its reporting, the public recognises and trusts the news delivered in the newspaper or television. That is what we want for the benefit of the media industry itself.
“I don’t think that is a healthy development in the industry if there isn’t accountability in news reporting because the public will no longer trust the news reported by the media,” she said.
Teo said that MMC members would consist of individuals from several categories, with the majority of them being local media industry players.
“The first category includes the owner of a media company or agency, the second is media practitioners, and the third is non-governmental organisations related to the media industry including academics.
“Several government representatives will also be part of the council, but it will still be managed entirely by industry players themselves to ensure that it is also free from government control,” she said.
On May 11, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil was reported as saying that the bill for the establishment of the MMC was expected to be tabled in Parliament by March next year. – Bernama, May 20, 2023
