Self-regulating media council will avoid need for govt action - Teo

 

PARLIAMENT | The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) would prevent the government from being seen as oppressing the media, said Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching. 

She said that the proposed council - which is self-regulated - would allow the government to stop taking action against the media industry

“One of the MMC’s responsibilities would be to come up with a code of conduct so it is able to self-regulate. 

“At the same time, if anyone has any issues with any newspaper publications or TV (stations), they can bring the issue to the MMC as it will have a grievance mechanism to settle any disputes. 

“After the council is established, the government does not have to always take action against the media industry, which can be seen as oppressing them. We hope that with the establishment of the MMC, the media industry will be more independent and can increase its standards,” she told Dewan Rakyat. 

Teo, who is the Kulai MP, was responding to a question from Syahredzan Johan (Pakatan Harapan-Bangi), who asked if the draft bill for the council includes a provision that allows it to be self-regulatory. 

Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching

Earlier, Teo said that the ministry has directed for a reshuffling of the council’s pro-tem committee as many of its 21 members are no longer active in the media industry. 

She said that after the ministry refines the draft bill, a meeting will be held to reach a consensus before it is tabled in Parliament. 

Following a meeting with Teo earlier this month, the council formed a new pro-tem committee consisting of 40 members, made of representatives of print, broadcast and online media, professional organisations and academia.

In the meeting, Teo said the ministry hopes to table the draft bill to allow the formation of the council this year.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil was quoted earlier this month saying that the setting up of the media council and draft Bill must take into consideration the provisions under the available federal and state laws that are related to the media. 

The draft bill was submitted to the then Communications and Multimedia Ministry in August 2020.  - Mkini