MMC to begin membership registration in August, AGM scheduled for November

New Straits Times

a day ago

PUTRAJAYA: Membership registration for the Malaysia Media Council (MMC) will open in early August and close at the end of September, with a nominal fee of RM10, according to the Council's Founding Board Members.
In a statement issued today following the presentation of appointment letters to the members of the Founding Board by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, MMC announced that applications can be submitted via its official website at www.majlismedia.my.
"Membership is open to media owners, professionals, individuals and organisations involved in the media ecosystem, as well as those representing the public's interest," the statement read.
The MMC also announced that its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled to take place on Nov 7 in Kuala Lumpur. At the AGM, new board members will be elected and key matters will be discussed, including the membership fee structure, the industry's code of ethics, complaints mechanism, annual budget and MMC's by-laws.
At its first meeting, the Founding Board appointed Premesh Chandran as Interim Chairperson, pending the election of a full board later this year.
As an independent self-regulatory body for Malaysia's media industry, the MMC is expected to play a pivotal role in promoting ethical and responsible journalism, establishing the industry code of ethics and serving as a bridge between the media, government and the public.
"The MMC will enhance professionalism in the media industry and protect public interest within an increasingly complex media environment," MMC added.
MMC said its structure is designed to ensure broad representation, with the Founding Board consisting of elected representatives from media publishers, media professionals and public interest groups, including academics and members of civil society.
"Additionally, the government may appoint two representatives. Notably, the MMC Act 2025 stipulates that at least 25 per cent of board members must come from Sabah and Sarawak, and leadership of the Council must reflect gender parity — a first in Malaysia," it said.
In the same statement, Founding Board member Phyllis Wong, of the Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo, said she felt honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility, and was encouraged by the shared commitment to uphold media ethics and accountability, despite MMC not yet being fully operational.
"This marks the beginning of a unified voice for responsible journalism in Malaysia," she said.
Fellow board member Ronnie Teo, of the Kuching Division Journalists Association, described the MMC as a long-awaited platform to bring together media professionals across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. — BERNAMA