KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has announced the founding board members of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC).
The Communications Minister said the members comprise representatives from four categories, namely media companies, media associations, media professionals and non-media practitioners.
They are:
1. MalaysiaKini co-founder and MMC pro-tem committee chairman Premesh Chandran
2. National Union of Journalists Malaysia secretary- general Teh Athira Yusof
3. Astro Awani chief editor Ashwad Ismail
4. Gerakan Media Merdeka president Radzi Razak
5. Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo general manager Wong Yang Yong
6. Academician Gayathri S. Venkiteswaran
7. Daily Express chief editor Datuk Sardahthisa James
8. Journalists Association of Kuching Division Sarawak president Ronnie Teo Teck Wei
9. Malaysian Tamil Media Organisation president Muthameez Manan
10. Mohd Azmyl Md Yusof
11. Celine Lim
12. Terence Ooi
“After 50 years, we have finally passed the law in Parliament,” he said in his speech during the National Journalists Day (Hawana) 2025 celebrations here on Saturday (June 14).
The Malaysian Media Council Bill 2024, which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 26, will allow self-regulation within the local media industry.
Fahmi also announced the extension of social security protection of part-time and freelance journalists, or stringers.
He said this was in collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme.
“Last year, a total of 531 stringers benefited from the scheme.
“Similar benefits would be extended this year with an allocation of RM31,170,” he added.
He also announced that protection of media stringers would also be expanded under the Employees Provident Fund’s i-Saraan scheme.
Fahmi said this initiative involved an allocation of over RM15,000.
He also announced that over 12,000 journalists would be able to enjoy 50% discounts on AirAsia flights to over 50 destinations in Asean, in conjunction with Malaysia’s chairmanship.
