PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the Malaysian Media Council’s (MMC) role to be enhanced to ensure media freedom, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (pic).
Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson, said Anwar relayed this to him during a phone call on Wednesday night.
“The Prime Minister made a call to me at midnight to discuss this matter, and from what he can see, there is a need to strengthen the MMC,” he told the media that included Bernama after witnessing the inking of a memorandum of understanding between Zchwantech Group and Magna AI here yesterday.
Fahmi said this when asked to comment on the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday that the government is ready to provide more space for media freedom, including considering a review of related laws.
He said the government has provided a Media Innovation Fund to help more media companies and organisations face sudden changes, such as loss of advertising spending and employee productivity issues due to technological challenges.
Fahmi said several matters would be followed up on through further discussions with MMC, since it is seen as the most suitable to represent the industry in discussing the direction and actual needs of media practitioners in the country.
He said efforts are also ongoing to get an office for MMC as the first step before it scrutinises and refines its role and related matters more thoroughly.
Fahmi said one of the main concerns raised was journalistic ethics, especially when there is a significant discrepancy between the headline and the content of the news reported.
“I believe our media colleagues are aware of this issue and, in several instances, the reports filed on the ground are different after undergoing the editing process at the editor-in-chief’s level.
“Perhaps, that’s where we can look to assist in improving matters,” he said.
Established in line with the Malaysian Media Council Act, which came into effect on June 14, 2025, MMC is an independent body that acts as a self-regulatory mechanism for the country’s media industry, with a view of promoting journalistic ethics and media freedom.
On another matter, Fahmi said the government is open and ready to consider any proposals from the opposition regarding the study on the feasibility of holding a Kuala Lumpur mayoral election.
He said such proposals could be brought forth by opposition lawmakers during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat next week.
He said there is no need to debate the matter in Parliament at this stage as urged by the opposition because the government has yet to receive the findings of a feasibility study conducted by the International Islamic University Malaysia.
Fahmi said this in response to Perikatan Nasional chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who urged the government to table and debate the proposal in Parliament.
