KUALA LUMPUR: Media practitioners have welcomed the appointment of former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as chairperson of the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), expressing confidence that her extensive judicial experience will strengthen media freedom, integrity and credibility in the country.
Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) president Datuk Yong Soo Heong said Nallini’s legal background would provide a strong foundation for the council’s leadership, ensuring its decisions and policies are guided by the principles of justice, transparency and accountability.
"A respected former judge brings a perspective that is independent of political and commercial interests, ensuring that the MMM’s decisions and policies are grounded in fairness and the public interest.
"This gives confidence that the council will be guided by high standards of integrity and balanced judgment in addressing media-related issues,” he told Bernama on Monday (June 15).
Yong said such an integrity-driven approach would help strengthen public confidence in the media’s role as a key institution in the country’s democratic framework.
Meanwhile, National Journalism Laureate Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said the appointment was in line with the original aspirations behind the establishment of the council, which envisioned the MMM being led by an independent, impartial and credible figure.
He said the idea had long been championed, dating back to proposals for the formation of the National Union of Newspaper Editors (ONE) in the 1980s.
"That was also my stance when I launched the plenary session for the formation of the MMM in 2018 alongside then Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo, in my capacity as Special Adviser on Media and Communications to then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"We not only wanted the MMM to be independent, but also to be seen and trusted as independent. The appointment of a former senior judge undoubtedly fulfils that prerequisite,” he said.
A. Kadir said he was confident that, with the cooperation of stakeholders across the industry, the MMM under Nallini’s leadership would further strengthen media freedom and professionalism.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Media Clubs Association (GKMM) president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak said the appointment also presents an opportunity to enhance the council’s role, including reviewing the MMM Act to provide clearer statutory powers for the body to carry out its functions.
He said this was necessary to enable the council to more effectively uphold the rights of its members and resolve complaints and issues affecting the media industry.
"The MMM has received various complaints from media practitioners, but some cannot be addressed or acted upon due to the absence of clear legal provisions or authority,” he said.
Mohamad Fauzi added that the appointment comes at a crucial time for the media industry, which is facing increasingly complex challenges, including the spread of misinformation and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI).
He said Nallini’s experience, integrity and credibility would bring fresh leadership to the council and help ensure a healthy, professional and accountable media ecosystem.
"We need leadership that not only understands the industry’s challenges, but is also capable of defending media freedom while maintaining high standards of accountability among practitioners.
"Most importantly, the MMM must remain an independent and impartial institution, free from the influence of vested interests, so that confidence in its role can continue to grow among both the industry and the public,” he said.
Earlier today, the MMM announced Nallini’s appointment as chairperson of the self-regulatory body established under the MMM Act 2025.
Her appointment was unanimously endorsed by the MMM board members during a meeting held on May 26.- Bernama
