a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
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.
