PETALING JAYA: All media must be held accountable for their content but invoking punitive laws to penalise the press undermines media freedom, says the founding board of the Malaysian Media Council.
Expressing concern over a recent publishing error by a Malay daily on the profile of recently appointed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, they said newsrooms should have robust operating procedures aligned with media ethics and professional journalism standards.
“Upholding these principles is essential to maintaining public trust and the integrity of the profession,” they said in a statement on Monday (June 23).
However, they urged caution against the use of heavy-handed or disproportionate measures by
authorities in responding to such errors.
“The remedy for flawed journalism is better journalism, not intimidation or suppression,” the founding board said.
The statement comes after a Malay daily published a report erroneously linking the newly-appointed IGP to a political party.
In the same statement, they cited reports that the daily has since apologised and asked for a meeting with the IGP, who also agreed to this.
“We believe the meeting between the two parties will resolve the matter constructively,” it said.
They said that mistakes can and do happen in any profession, and that what matters is how they are addressed.
“The media must, in turn, respond to such lapses with transparency, humility, and a commitment to improve,” they added.
Despite the Media Council yet to be formally constituted, the founding board said this incident compelled them to reaffirm the fundamental values of responsible journalism and the importance of fact-checking, especially when reporting on key national institutions.
“We believe that constructive accountability, rather than punitive control, is the best way to build a stronger, more trustworthy media landscape in Malaysia,” they said.
