KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council Bill 2024, which will allow self-regulation within the local media industry, has been passed in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Bill was passed on Wednesday (Feb 26) via a voice vote after the third reading by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
Under the Bill, the council will have to set standards and establish a code of conduct with ethical and responsible standards of journalism for media practitioners.
A total of 19 MPs participated in the debates on the Bill. It was tabled for first reading on Dec 12, 2024.
When tabling the Bill for Second Reading, Teo said a media council was proposed over five decades ago in 1973 by second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
"But the Cabinet memorandum to set up the Malaysian Media Council was only tabled to Cabinet and approved on Dec 6, 2019," she said.
Various efforts to set up the media council have been taken and a draft of the Bill was completed by a 21-member pro-tem committee in August 2020.
After that, 26 engagement sessions with stakeholders were held with the pro-tem committee.
"In short, the Malaysian Media Council Bill came about from efforts and cooperation between the government and media industry representatives," said Teo, who noted that the pro-tem committee now consists of 40 representatives from the media industry.
She also said Clause 5 of the Bill outlines the functions of the council, among them to set and regulate standards and professional conduct of media practitioners and independent media practitioners.
"For now, we don't have a body to manage and fight for the interests of the local media.
"Through the setting up of the council, the government is confident that checks and balances can be carried out by media industry players themselves," said Teo.
Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) said the Malaysian Media Council Bill would be a "game changer" for the media industry.
"If this Bill is passed, the Malaysian media will transition from a 'state intervention' framework to a self-regulating framework.
"Any complaints or concerns on media reporting will be handled and settled with a remedial mechanism that will be drafted by the Malaysian Media Council," said Syahredzan.
Syahredzan also recalled his experience as a lawyer assisting journalists called up by the police to assist in investigations.
"If there was a media council 10 years ago, any dissatisfaction could have been channelled to the council and I feel this is an important point," he said.
Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) questioned the need to appoint two government representatives to the council.
"It is supposed to be independent, self-regulatory and free from government influence, as practised in other democratic countries.
"There should be no need for the appointments," he said.
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 Bill came about following calls by various media groups to establish a regulatory body aimed at safeguarding press freedom and promoting ethical standards in Malaysian journalism.
