THE Communications Ministry, in collaboration with media professionals and academics from the Protem Committee, has held numerous consultations on the proposed Malaysian Media Council Bill to assess its feasibility and impact.
Minister of Communications Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said today these discussions were aimed at refining the proposed establishment of the Media Council to ensure that it serves the interests of both the media industry and the public.
In a written response to a parliamentary question, Fahmi explained that the ministry, together with the Protem Committee, had conducted extensive consultations using a variety of methods.
“These included face-to-face meetings, group discussions, engagement sessions, and online consultations to gather comprehensive feedback from key stakeholders.”
"This ministry, in conjunction with the Protem Committee of the Malaysian Media Council, which comprises media practitioners and academics, has undertaken a series of discussions through various channels, such as meetings, group discussions, engagement sessions, and online consultations," he reiterated.
"These efforts were designed to collect valuable input from all interested parties regarding the proposal."
Fahmi added the Malaysian Productivity Council (MPC) had instructed the ministry to carry out a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to evaluate the potential effects of the proposed bill.
“However, after reviewing the documents associated with the bill, the MPC decided that only a Light RIA would be necessary. As a result, the Communications Ministry submitted a regulatory impact statement to the MPC, detailing the outcomes of consultations and taking into account the views of both the media industry and government officials, he said.
"On September 9, 2024, the MPC communicated that the information submitted by the ministry met the required criteria for the RIA and fulfilled the fundamental principles for the formation of the bill," Fahmi noted, in response to a recent question from Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) regarding the RIA results and their implications for the rights of media practitioners.
An RIA is an important tool typically used to assess the potential impact of regulatory decisions and to ensure that these decisions are well-informed and balanced.
The Media Council Bill was first introduced in Parliament on December 12, 2024, and has since passed its first reading.
The bill aims to establish a council to regulate and oversee the media industry in Malaysia, though it has yet to undergo further readings and deliberations.
In a separate development, Fahmi also expressed gratitude for receiving the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah (PMW) award, a prestigious honour granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim in conjunction with Federal Territories Day.
Fahmi acknowledged that this recognition would motivate him to continue working diligently for the people and to further enhance the productivity of the Ministry of Communications.
"I am deeply thankful and humbled by the honour granted by His Majesty. God willing, this award will provide renewed strength and motivation to both myself and my team to continue serving the people and to strive to improve the productivity of the ministry," Fahmi said. – March 7, 2025
