KUALA LUMPUR: The draft Bill of the Malaysian Media Council could be tabled in Parliament as early as before the end of the year, said Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications and Digital Minister said there were a slew of processes that are required before the draft could be brought to the Dewan Rakyat.
“Not so soon. The process will still require us to submit to the Cabinet. We have to go through that process first and subsequently through the Attorney General’s Chambers and to Parliament.
“We hope before the end of the year, either in the October session, or during the February and March session next year, that the bill can be tabled,” Fahmi told reporters when met during the Majlis Sekalung Budi at Angkasapuri on Thursday (May 11).
On March 13, the Communications and Digital Ministry said the draft Bill of the Malaysian Media Council will be discussed with the pro-tem committee.
Fahmi had previously said the Cabinet had given an approval on Dec 6, 2019, to set up the council.
The pro-tem committee consists of 21 members which included representatives from the media.
Tokoh Wartawan Negara (National Eminent Journalist) Tan Sri Johan Jaafar had said that the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council was needed to avoid the issue of government dominance over the media.