Take lesson from Sinar Harian case, media organisations advised
File photo for illustration purposes
KUCHING (June 23): The Malaysian Media Council has stressed that all media organisations must be held accountable for their content, following a recent publishing error by Sinar Harian involving the profile of the newly-appointed Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Having said that, the council also emphasised that responsibility, accountability and press freedom must go hand in hand.
'Media outlets should implement robust internal procedures that reflect professional journalistic standards and ethical practices.
'This is vital in sustaining public trust and upholding the integrity of the media profession,' it said in a statement today.
However, the council also warned against heavy-handed or disproportionate responses from the authorities when addressing errors made by media outlets.
'Invoking punitive laws to penalise journalists or publications would risk undermining media freedom. The solution to flawed journalism is better journalism, and not intimidation or suppression.
'In reference to the Sinar Harian case, it is noted that the publication has since apologised and requested a meeting with the IGP, who has reportedly agreed,' said the statement.
Thus the council expressed hope that the issue can be resolved in a constructive and respectful manner, underscoring the importance of addressing errors within the proper frameworks.
The Council also acknowledged that mistakes, while unfortunate, are part of any profession. It said what matters most is how the media responds to such lapses through transparency, humility, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
'Although the Malaysian Media Council has not yet been fully constituted, the founding board issued the statement to reaffirm its commitment to fostering a media environment that upholds freedom of expression while maintaining high ethical and professional standards,' said the statement.
The Council thus reiterated the importance of fact-checking, particularly when reporting on key national institutions, and advocated for constructive accountability rather than punitive control.
The statement was signed by the Founding Board of the Malaysian Media Council, which includes representatives from media owners, media practitioners and civil society.
Representing media owners are Phyllis Wong Yang Yong of Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo, James Sarda of Sabah Publishing House, Premesh Chandran of Malaysiakini, and Ashwad Ismail of Astro Awani.
Representing media practitioners are Radzi Razak from Geramm, Teh Athira Yusof from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ronnie Teo Teck Wei of the Kuching Division Journalists Association, and Muthameez Manan from the Tamil Media Association.
Representing civil society and academia are Gayathry Venkiteswaran from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Celine Lim from SAVE Rivers, Terence Ooi Guan Tseng of Wiki Impact, and Azmyl Yunor from Sunway University.
The Malaysian Media Council is established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025.
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