Code or control?

The relaunching of the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists in February has raised many doubts and questions by observers on the government’s involvement in regulating journalism.

THE government has no locus standi to establish a media council if it is to be set as a self-regulatory body to represent the independence of the fourth estate, says a media industry expert.

International Islamic University’s Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican points out that in the first place, the Malaysia Media Council Bill should ideally be tabled as a private member’s bill, instead of a government bill, to mitigate the potential of government influence in its formation from the get-go.