logo
12 named as founding board members of media council

12 named as founding board members of media council

The Star2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve individuals have been named as the founding board members of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC).
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the members consist of representatives from four different categories of the media industry.
The categories are media companies, media associations, media professionals and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media practitioners.
'After 50 years, we have finally passed the law in Parliament,' he said in his speech at the National Journalists Day (Hawana) 2025 celebration here yesterday.
The board members are MalaysiaKini co-founder and MMC pro-tem committee chairman Premesh Chandran, National Union of Journalists Malaysia general secretary Teh Athira Yusof, Astro Awani chief editor Ashwad Ismail and Gerakan Media Merdeka president Radzi Razak.
Also appointed are Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo general manager Wong Yang Yong, Daily Express chief editor Datuk Sardahthisa James, Journalists Association of Kuching Division Sarawak president Ronnie Teo Teck Wei and Malaysian Tamil Media Organisation president Muthameez Manan.
Other members of the MCC governing body are academics Mohd Azmyl Md Yusof, Gayathri S. Venkiteswaran, Celine Lim and Terence Ooi.
The Malaysian Media Council Bill 2024, which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 26, will allow self-regulation within the local media industry.
On Friday, Fahmi signed the gazettement of MMC and it officially took effect from yesterday in conjunction with Hawana 2025 celebration.
Fahmi also announced the extension of social security protection to part-time and freelance journalists, or stringers.
He said this was in collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme.
'Last year, a total of 531 stringers benefited from the scheme.
'Similar benefits would be extended this year with an allocation of RM37,170,' he added.
He also announced that protection of media stringers would also be expanded under the Employees Provident Fund's i-Saraan scheme.
He also announced that over 12,000 journalists would be able to enjoy one-off 50% discounts on AirAsia flights to over 50 destinations in Asean, in conjunction with Malaysia's chairmanship.
Fahmi also revealed that AirAsia was keen to name one of its airplanes after a journalist with special livery to honour media practitioners.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NST Leader: Travel ban? Yes and no!
NST Leader: Travel ban? Yes and no!

New Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

NST Leader: Travel ban? Yes and no!

WAS Fahmi Reza, Malaysian graphic artist and activist, banned from overseas travel? The answer should be as easy as yes or no. But according to the Immigration Department, the answer was, at least on June 6 as Fahmi found out at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he was about to board a flight to Singapore, yes and no depending on whether it is the department's English or Bahasa website. Being bilingual, Fahmi read both only to get different responses. How could one department have one system but two different responses, albeit in two languages? The English version said there was no travel ban, but the Bahasa copy asked him to contact the Immigration Department, suggesting there was a restriction of some sort. Mind bending. The department did try to explain the puzzle through a statement, but it appears to blame the system. Little wonder, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed the department to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Looks like nothing gets done without the intervention of the prime minister. Or in extreme cases, unless a royal decree is issued. We cannot take the nation to a good place if the public service only springs into action when intervention is from the top. But that is the developing pattern we detect, when a blunder like this or road tragedies happen. We have a question for the Immigration Department's top management: Why didn't they spring into action the moment they detected the mess up? Frankly, the Immigration Department has a lot more to explain on Fahmi's overseas travel ban controversy than merely issuing a statement that appears to point the finger at the system. Now it has become a national issue, with the conversation being joined by non-governmental organisations and even former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad. As an aside, there was irony at work in the case of Dzulkifli. It was MACC that requested the travel ban. All are agreed on one point: no agency should have unchecked power to restrict a person's freedom of movement. Or to put it differently, every agency that is given the power to do so — we can't deny our laws do empower agencies to do so — must direct itself properly in law. This is an old public law principle expounded in the seminal English case of Wednesbury, which is part of our common law. Lord Greene there was speaking of the exercise of discretion, but if it applies to good judgment it must apply more so to the exercise of power. Make no mistake. We are not saying freedom of movement or speech is absolute. There isn't a country in the world where either is absolute. But what is called for is transparent due process. Our government agencies could do better when it comes to due process. The people, including Fahmi, must understand that there isn't absolute freedom. Similarly, our agencies must know that there isn't such a thing as unchecked power. Power granted by the law must be exercised properly in law.

Govt's funding a step towards future-ready mainstream media
Govt's funding a step towards future-ready mainstream media

The Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Sun

Govt's funding a step towards future-ready mainstream media

KUALA LUMPUR: The allocation of RM30 million announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for media organisations in the country to implement digital transformation and adopt new technology received kudos from journalists, as it will go a long way to attract the younger generation to mainstream content. This initiative is also seen as significant to ensure that the mainstream media remains relevant in the fast-paced digital era, by positioning it as a platform capable of content creation to deliver information in a more creative, engaging, accurate and high-impact manner. National Press Club (NPC) vice-president Farrah Naz Abd Karim described the allocation as a catalyst for media organisations to use creative approaches in delivering important issues to make them more digestible for young readers. 'This also proves that the MADANI government is paying attention to this industry by working together to think about ways to improve the quality of output from players in the journalism industry,' she said, thanking the government for the allocation. Meanwhile, Sinar Harian Group Editor-in-Chief Zamri Rambli, when contacted, said the funding was an important step in strengthening the country's media industry. According to him, digital transformation is no longer an option but a necessity in ensuring journalism remains relevant and sustainable. 'Government support for media organisations will help us adapt to the challenges of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and shifts in reader habits. 'We hope that this fund can be effectively utilised, not only to enhance digital infrastructure but also to empower journalists to deliver news faster, more accurately and with integrity,' he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during the HAWANA 2025 summit at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre here last Saturday, announced an allocation of RM30 million for media organisations in the country to implement digital transformation and adopt new technologies. The HAWANA 2025 celebration, organised by the Communications Ministry with Bernama as the implementing agency, aims to recognise the role and contribution of media practitioners in national development. May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists' Day in conjunction with the publication of the first edition of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939, to celebrate the contribution of industry players as a medium in shaping the minds of an informed society.

Govt's Funding A Step Towards Future-Ready Mainstream Media
Govt's Funding A Step Towards Future-Ready Mainstream Media

Barnama

time4 hours ago

  • Barnama

Govt's Funding A Step Towards Future-Ready Mainstream Media

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The allocation of RM30 million announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for media organisations in the country to implement digital transformation and adopt new technology received kudos from journalists, as it will go a long way to attract the younger generation to mainstream content. This initiative is also seen as significant to ensure that the mainstream media remains relevant in the fast-paced digital era, by positioning it as a platform capable of content creation to deliver information in a more creative, engaging, accurate and high-impact manner. National Press Club (NPC) vice-president Farrah Naz Abd Karim described the allocation as a catalyst for media organisations to use creative approaches in delivering important issues to make them more digestible for young readers. 'This also proves that the MADANI government is paying attention to this industry by working together to think about ways to improve the quality of output from players in the journalism industry,' she said, thanking the government for the allocation. Meanwhile, Sinar Harian Group Editor-in-Chief Zamri Rambli, when contacted, said the funding was an important step in strengthening the country's media industry. According to him, digital transformation is no longer an option but a necessity in ensuring journalism remains relevant and sustainable. 'Government support for media organisations will help us adapt to the challenges of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and shifts in reader habits. 'We hope that this fund can be effectively utilised, not only to enhance digital infrastructure but also to empower journalists to deliver news faster, more accurately and with integrity,' he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during the HAWANA 2025 summit at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre here last Saturday, announced an allocation of RM30 million for media organisations in the country to implement digital transformation and adopt new technologies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store