KUALA LUMPUR: Three media-related complaints have been referred to the Malaysian Media Council complaints panel for the first time.
According to a statement, the secretariat received 14 formal complaints during the second quarter of this year, with 10 resolved by June 30.
Of the four remaining cases, three were referred to the complaints panel, while one is being handled by the secretariat.
The panel, established to independently consider complex or disputed cases that cannot be resolved through direct engagement and mediation, is operating as a one-year pilot project.
It has a rotating membership, comprising representatives from media organisations, serving journalists, civil society groups and external experts.
The statement said the increase from five complaints in the first quarter to 14 in the second quarter reflected greater public awareness of the council’s complaints mechanism, following the implementation of its second phase.
The complaints involved recurring ethical issues, as well as new concerns, including reporting on suicide cases, protecting the privacy and dignity of dead persons and their families, content alleged to be inhumane or to incite hatred against the Rohingya community and inaccurate reporting of statements made by public figures.
The secretariat also examined emerging issues involving the use of artificial intelligence-generated images in journalism and the disclosure of personal information in court reports.
