Latest news with #MalaysianMediaCouncilAct
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
MMC act comes into force today
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act comes into effect on Saturday (June 14), says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. "The Malaysian Media Council Act takes effect on June 14, 2025, coinciding with the National Journalists' Day (Hawana). "We symbolically chose to gazette and enforce the Malaysian Media Council Act in conjunction with Hawana 2025," he told a press conference following the Hawana 2025 highlight at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL) here on Saturday. Themed "Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics", the event, attended by some 1,000 media practitioners from within and outside the country, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Deputy Communications Minister, Teo Nie Ching. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also Hawana 2025 project director and the top management of local media companies. Fahmi said he would hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC's founding board soon to facilitate the council's development process. "I hope the MMC will serve as a meaningful platform and continue to operate regardless of who forms the government in the future," he said. Earlier, in his speech, Fahmi mentioned that the MMC founding board comprises 12 members, with four representatives from each category: media companies, media associations, media practitioners, and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media members. The Hawana 2025 celebration was organised by the Communications Ministry with Bernama as the implementing agency, aimed at recognising the role and contributions of media practitioners to national development. May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists' Day, in conjunction with the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939. – Bernama
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysian Media Council Act enforced on HAWANA 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act comes into effect today, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said. Fahmi said he signed the gazette to enforce the Act, marking a significant milestone in reform for media practitioners. 'The Malaysian Media Council Act takes effect on June 14, 2025, coinciding with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) (celebration). 'We symbolically chose to gazette and enforce the Malaysian Media Council Act in conjunction with HAWANA 2025,' he told a press conference following the HAWANA 2025 highlight at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL) here today. Themed 'Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics', the event, attended by some 1,000 media practitioners from within and outside the country, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 project director, and the top management of local media companies. Fahmi said he would hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC's founding board soon to facilitate the council's development process. 'I hope the MMC will serve as a meaningful platform and continue to operate regardless of who forms the government in the future,' he said. Earlier, in his speech, Fahmi said the MMC founding board comprises 12 members, with four representatives from each category: media companies, media associations, media practitioners and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media members. The HAWANA 2025 celebration is organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, aimed at recognising the role and contributions of media practitioners to national development. May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists' Day, in conjunction with the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
MMC Act comes into force today, marking new chapter in media reform
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act comes into effect today, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said. Fahmi said he signed the gazette to enforce the Act, marking a significant milestone in reform for media practitioners. 'The Malaysian Media Council Act takes effect on June 14, 2025, coinciding with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) (celebration). 'We symbolically chose to gazette and enforce the Malaysian Media Council Act in conjunction with HAWANA 2025,' he told a press conference following the HAWANA 2025 highlight at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL) here today. Themed 'Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics', the event, attended by some 1,000 media practitioners from within and outside the country, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 project director, and the top management of local media companies. Fahmi said he would hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC's founding board soon to facilitate the council's development process. 'I hope the MMC will serve as a meaningful platform and continue to operate regardless of who forms the government in the future,' he said. Earlier, in his speech, Fahmi said the MMC founding board comprises 12 members, with four representatives from each category: media companies, media associations, media practitioners and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media members. The HAWANA 2025 celebration is organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, aimed at recognising the role and contributions of media practitioners to national development. May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists' Day, in conjunction with the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: A 50-year journey to media self-regulation
In 1987, 'New Straits Times' editorial director Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail issued a staff memorandum over the government's proposal to make the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 more punitive. The proposed provision would make editors or writers spend a mandatory one year in jail for the publication of "untruths", among other malfeasances. The proposed mandatory jail sentence rattled journalists. Back then, newsmen were used to being hauled to court for various infractions, but the cases often ended with only hefty fines. Granted, the political environment then was tense, a few months before October's Op Lalang, but somehow, Samad reacted just the opposite, unvexed at the proposed provision. Instead, he wrote a laconic sentence that stood out: "There is nothing to worry because the New Straits Times does not publish untruths". That Samad memorandum defined the defence and extension of media freedom to guarantee fair and responsible reporting based on self-regulation without government intervention. Samad's principles may have been subtly written into the new Malaysian Media Council Act, whether drafters of the law realised it or not. The Act is the culmination of a 50-year media journey to defend the freedom to publish, allowing for civilised public discourse and to make complaints against any media outfit. The Act's passing and its implications were so well received that the likes of the Malaysian Bar and Amnesty International have endorsed it, although they had minor reservations. It's a given that the media, previously ruled by newspapers, magazines, radio and TV but now dominated by online platforms, will continue to strive for autonomy and free expression. In this digital news era buttressed by artificial intelligence, the media, not just in Malaysia, has found it harder to tackle disinformation, hatred and unethical reporting, issues which the MMC must decisively address. Designed to be independent, the MMC will address media freedom, ethical journalism and welfare of its professionals, while upholding independence and strengthening information and free expression ecosystems. The National Journalists Day (Hawana) 2025 summit today expects the government to green-light these initiatives, and perhaps clarify certain grey areas. There are concerns about potential "interference", only because there are government representatives on the MMC board. The Act may have not defined terms like "ethical and responsible journalism" and "media independence", provisions open to interpretation. The Act also has not addressed concerns about deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation. Still, Hawana 2025 can resolve these concerns, ultimately allowing the media to operate as intended — free, responsible and truthful, just as the late Samad elucidated almost 40 years ago.
