Media council a milestone in press reform, says Syahredzan
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said the establishment of a media council fulfils a Pakatan Harapan manifesto promise made during the 15th general election.
PETALING JAYA : Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan has hailed the enforcement of the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025 as a landmark reform, saying it underscores the government's commitment to institutional change and press freedom.
He said the Act, which came into force today, marks a shift from government intervention to a self-regulatory framework that empowers the media to manage itself more independently.
'Complaints, grievances, dissatisfaction and any issues related to media reporting will be managed and resolved through a dispute resolution mechanism that will be developed under this Act,' he said in a Facebook post.
Syahredzan said the new legislation will also reduce reliance on legal action, such as civil suits or criminal charges, to settle media-related disputes.
'Legal actions under laws such as the Communications and Multimedia Act against media bodies and online practitioners should also be minimised,' he said.
Earlier today, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the Act's enforcement today in conjunction with National Journalists Day (Hawana), and said the founding board of the media council had been finalised.
The council will serve as an independent self-regulatory body that protects media freedom and ensures compliance with ethical journalism standards.
Syahredzan, who is also the DAP national vice-chairman, said the Act fulfils a Pakatan Harapan manifesto promise made during the 15th general election under the 'Kita Boleh' campaign.
However, he said, the government's reform agenda should not stop here.
'The government must also review laws that restrict media freedom, such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act, to ensure alignment with the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Federal Constitution,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
39 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
PM Anwar says SST stays, GST off table till economy and wages rise
LUMUT, June 15 — The government is not ready to reintroduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as it would affect all segments of society, particularly the poor, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister said GST is a broad-based tax that would be applied uniformly to all consumers, regardless of income, including fishermen, smallholders, or street cleaners. 'GST taxes everybody. While it is efficient and straightforward, just six per cent across the board, I must ask, if everyone has to pay six per cent, why should the poor and the unemployed be taxed as well?' he said when closing the Perak Madani Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025 here today. Anwar said that although the opposition has suggested GST as a better option, the government has chosen to postpone its implementation to avoid burdening the people, who are still struggling with the rising cost of living. 'That's why we say we're not ready for GST. If, one day, the economy improves and the minimum wage reaches RM4,000 or more, then by all means, implement GST. But for now, I'm calling for it to be postponed, don't turn it into a political issue,' he said. Anwar said the government is retaining the Sales and Services Tax (SST), which is more targeted in nature, particularly on imported luxury items such as avocados and cod, products typically consumed by high-income earners. 'Local bananas are not taxed, but expensive imported fruits like avocados, usually consumed by those in the high-income group, should come with a slightly higher price. The same goes for cod, which is also imported and costly, so we tax it,' he said. As such, he emphasised that the tax revenue collected from these imported and high-end goods could be used to develop infrastructure that benefits the people, such as hospitals, schools, and the national defence system. However, Anwar said the tax revenue collected by the government is not solely meant to cover the country's operating expenditure, but also to fund various development and welfare initiatives that directly benefit the people. According to the Prime Minister, although there are weaknesses in the SST system, the government remains open to reviewing and enhancing it comprehensively in the nation's best interest. — Bernama
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
From drug abuse to jobs, Anwar wants ministers, MPs to directly engage with grassroots to close policy gap
LUMUT, June 15 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged all ministers, senior federal and state government officials, as well as policy and project implementers, to frequently engage with the public to better understand the issues faced by the people. The Prime Minister said members of parliament should also adopt this approach to ensure local concerns are addressed more effectively and comprehensively. 'Even senior civil servants are requested to go to the ground, which is why we have initiatives like Sejati Madani and Kampung Angkat Madani. These enable senior officials, including ministers, to identify any disconnect between policy statements and their implementation at the grassroots level. 'When we engage at the ground level, we discuss issues like education, unemployment, drug abuse, healthcare facilities and economic projects. All these must be addressed thoroughly because the challenges reported may differ between federal and state levels,' he said. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said this at the closing of the Perak-level Madani Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025 held at Lumut Waterfront here today. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Razarudin confirms term as IGP ends on June 22
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said a handover ceremony has been scheduled for June 20. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain has confirmed that his term will end on June 22. According to Sinar Harian, Razarudin said he would not extend his contract out of respect for his mother's wishes. 'My mother asked me not to continue (as IGP). I've lived with her a long time and when she said that, I took it as a wish (from her). 'I wouldn't dare go against her,' he was quoted as saying at a community event in Kampung Parit Seberang, Kuala Pilah, today. Razarudin said his decision had been communicated to home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 'There's no need to extend the contract. Two years as IGP is enough. It's time for a successor,' he said, adding that a handover ceremony had been tentatively scheduled for June 20. Speculation had been rife after media reports quoted sources as saying a handover ceremony and final march-past would be held at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre (Pulapol) next Friday. Razarudin, 61, was appointed to the position on June 23, 2023, following the retirement of Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani. He had held various key positions in the past, including assistant director of D9 criminal investigation department at Bukit Aman, deputy commander of the Special Task Force on Organised Crime, Penang CID chief, and Sabah deputy police commissioner. He later served as Perak deputy police chief before becoming the state's top cop. From 2021 to 2023, he led Bukit Aman's narcotics crime investigation department before being promoted to deputy IGP.
