Latest news with #SuicideContentGuidelines
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Ethical reporting in suicide cases
Useful handbook: Fahmi (third from left) holding a copy of the Suicide Content Guidelines at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. With him are (from left) MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin, Mediha, Rafiq, Dr Ismuni and Wong. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star Mainstream and social media urged to observe the dos and don'ts PETALING JAYA: Ethical content reporting on suicide cases should be a collective effort by media organisations, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said that with the launching of the Suicide Content Guidelines, he was hopeful that they could be implemented and practised by all parties. 'For us to make a structural change, especially in the culture of reporting, the entire organisation needs to understand the importance of respecting the principles that have been established in these guidelines,' he told reporters after launching the document at Menara Star here yesterday. Following the launch, he called for the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), which had spearheaded the drafting of the guidelines, to engage with as many media organisations as possible to ensure the essence of the document could be adopted. The guidelines, he said, are not only applicable to mainstream media but also social media platforms. 'We cannot have these social media platforms washing their hands of content that could create online harm, particularly related to suicide,' he said. Fahmi said he had requested the Content Forum to ensure the participation of social media platforms in its initiatives. He pointed out that only TikTok is a member of CMCF, urging other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X to follow suit. 'TikTok took an early step even before we introduced the social media licensing regime and I wholeheartedly applaud its approach to voluntarily be a member of CMCF,' he said. CMCF chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the drafting of the guidelines was inspired by the Health Ministry's very own version. She noted that the ministry's guidelines were released in 2011. But with various changes since then, she said there was a need to have an updated version of the guidelines. She explained that many things had changed since 2011. 'Even the media landscape has changed, so we decided that we needed to have an updated version. 'We worked together with the Health Ministry and other stakeholders to have guidelines that's not just for media reporting but also for every form of content sharing,' she said. Mediha said the guidelines were also meant for content creators, social media influencers and filmmakers. The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council would further complement the implementation of the guidelines, she said. The council will comprise members who are knowledgeable on content-related matters. 'We can have these guidelines as a standard for all media organisations and if they have improvements that they think we should make to these guidelines, we can update it at any time,' she added. CMCF chairman Rafiq Rizal said the guidelines aim to create a framework that protects the vulnerable, empowers the informed and supports a healthier and more compassionate national discourse. 'In an era when headlines compete for attention and social media posts go viral in seconds, it is essential that our content practices are guided by intention and empathy,' he said. For instance, Rafiq said discussion on suicide matters should be done with care and intention. Among the objectives of the guidelines include preventing imitative suicides, promoting help-seeking behaviour, enhancing public awareness and education, as well as supporting media professionals and social media users. Also present at the launch were Star Media Group chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, Star Media Group group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt and Health Ministry deputy director-general (public health) Dr Ismuni Bohari.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Social media platforms urged to join Content Forum to ensure accountability of content, says Fahmi
PETALING JAYA: All social media platforms should be part of Content Forum to ensure accountability of their impacts on the society, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Communications Minister said that social media providers should be responsible for the content shared on their platforms after raking in billions of ringgit in advertisements earnings. 'We must make sure these platforms join Content Forum, so that they need to be aware of the impact they have on Malaysian society. 'They cannot profit from our loss,' he said when launching the Suicide Content Guidelines at Menara Star here on Tuesday (June 3). He added that such guidelines were important alongside participation in initiatives by Content Forum. Fahmi also said that he was hopeful that the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council would further provide media organisations with a platform to comprehensively discuss and address various issues, including online harms. In a press conference later, he also told reporters that the platforms should not 'wash their hands off' of content that could fuel online harms including suicides and cyber bullying. ALSO READ: Malaysia begins social media licencing He said that currently only TikTok has become a member of the forum and urged Meta to follow suit. 'It's actually in their interest that they participate so that they can help to develop certain best practises, codes of conduct,' he added. Fahmi said the problem of social media platforms not collaborating with the authorities were also experienced by other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Asean despite various laws pun in place. 'Many of these social media platforms feel that they are bigger than the laws of the countries in the Asia-Pacifc region. 'So it's not just a matter of laws but the attitude of these platforms,' he added. The guideline is an industry-led, national framework that sets standards for how suicide-related topics are covered and shared in both traditional and digital platforms. Also present at the launch were Content Forum chairman Rafiq Razali, Star Media Group chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, and Star Media Group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt, among others.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Social media platforms urged to join CMCF to ensure ethical content
PETALING JAYA: All social media platforms should join the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) to ensure more ethical content, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The minister, when making the call, said CMCF was industry-led and it was in their interest to develop best practices for the industry. Fahmi said currently, only TikTok was a member of the CMCF, while Facebook, Instagram and X were not despite many invitations. "They have given many excuses, and as Mediha Mahmood (CMCF chief executive officer) mentioned, Facebook said they would be licensed. TikTok, on the other hand, took an early step even before the licensing regime and voluntarily became a member of the CMCF. "I wholeheartedly applaud TikTok's approach. But Facebook, Instagram and X are far from satisfactory. "I will communicate with them. The CMCF is not government-led; it is industry-led. It is actually in their own interest to help develop certain best practices and codes of conduct," he said to reporters at the Suicide Content Guidelines launch today. Fahmi expressed hope that the Suicide Content Guidelines could be digested and practised by all parties in a media organisation. "If we want to bring about structural change, the whole organisation needs to understand the importance of respecting certain principles. "Following this, I asked the CMCF to undertake a few things. Firstly, to conduct workshops with as many media organisations in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, so that all parties understand the core elements of the guidelines that have been launched. "Secondly, we need to involve not just mainstream media, but also social media platforms. These platforms, such as TikTok, Facebook and others, must understand that anything which leads to what may not necessarily be categorised as a news report but is still displayed or featured on their platforms must be addressed accordingly. "We cannot have the social media platforms washing their hands of content that could also create online harm, particularly content related to suicide," he said. Fahmi, who just came back from the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Ministerial Meeting (APT-MM) 2025, said that all countries were facing issues with social media platforms. He said the platforms seem to think that they are above the law. "Many of these social media platforms seem to think they are above the laws of countries in the Southeast Asian region, or even the Asia-Pacific. So, this is not merely a legal issue. It is also about the attitude of these platforms. "One could say they are profit-driven. When it comes to making money, they move very fast. But when it comes to complying with the laws, they are extremely slow," he said. He added that he had spoken to his counterparts both in the Asia-Pacific region and Southeast Asia, who were facing the same predicament. "What we have managed to achieve is the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, which was agreed upon during the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information meeting in Brunei in early May. This Kuala Lumpur Declaration will be adopted during the 47th Asean Summit this coming October. "This declaration is essentially a statement of intent by Asean countries to face these social media companies as a united front, or at least with a common goal. "Economically, we do hope these platforms can contribute to the digital economy. But when it comes to social security and national security, for Asean countries, these platforms must comply with the laws of our respective nations in the Southeast Asian region and Asia-Pacific as a whole," he said. Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF) chairman Rafiq Razali, in his speech during the launching ceremony, said the guidelines aim to create a framework that protects the vulnerable, empowers the informed, and supports a healthier and more compassionate national discourse. "We are not alone in this mission. We are part of a broader movement — one that sees ethical storytelling as a tool for advocacy, awareness, and, ultimately, prevention and preservation. "In an era when headlines compete for attention and social media posts go viral in seconds, it is essential that our content practices are guided by intention and empathy. "The way we talk about suicide matters, and it's crucial that we do so with care and intention," he said.
