KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council Bill, which outlines the workings of the council that will move the media industry in the country towards self regulation, has been tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday.
The bill tabled by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching outlines the functions of the council, its powers, membership, chairmanship, board of council, finance and grievances mechanism.
Under the proposed law, the council will have to set standards and establish a code of conduct with ethical and responsible standards of journalism for media practitioners.
It will also have to promote the highest standards of ethical and responsible journalism; media independence and the rights of media practitioners—-in addition to regulating ethics and professional conduct among the fraternity.
The council can also suggest law reforms; facilitate and conduct training; form and maintain a database with information of media practitioners; determine grievances mechanism and disciplinary proceedings against a council member, among others.
According to section 6(1), the council has the power to also decide on matters related to membership, administration and management of the council; membership fees, charges or payment; and conduct inquiry on complaints against media practitioners and independent media practitioners through grievances mechanism.
A Malaysian Media Council Fund will also be formed.
The council will also have the power to require a member to furnish information to perform its functions and utilise properties under its name to raise money for the Malaysian Media Council Fund.
The memberships have been split into three categories namely a media company represented by the media publisher or senior management; a media association as well as a category for non-media members.
These memberships will be subjected to yearly renewals for a fee.
The council will be governed by a board comprising a chairman who is not involved in politics, civil service or legislature and two members representing the government.
Media companies; media associations and non-media members will have four members each and will have at least one woman and one representative from Sabah and Sarawak.
The chairman and board members will be paid an allowance. A board member shall hold office for two years.
The code of conduct will have to be determined at a general meeting.
“No action, suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall be brought, instituted or maintained in any court against the board or any committee established by the board on account of or in respect of any act, neglect or default done or omitted by them in the course of carrying out their duties under this Act unless it can be proven that the act, neglect or default was done or omitted in bad faith and without reasonable cause,” it added.
