Minister hopes to table Media Council Bill by March next year

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has expressed hopes to table the Malaysian Media Council Bill in the Parliament by March next year.

Speaking to reporters today, Fahmi (above) said his ministry would be required to submit a memorandum to the cabinet and subsequently to the Attorney-General’s Chambers before tabling it in the August House.

“Not so soon. But we hope before the end of the year, hopefully, either in the October (parliamentary) session or the February-March session of 2024, the bill can be tabled,” he told reporters after his ministry’s monthly assembly at Angkasapuri in Kuala Lumpur today.

On March 29, Fahmi said in a written parliamentary reply that the government had set up a task force to study the proposed Malaysian Media Council draft bill.

He added that the bill had been submitted by the pro-tem committee, which is made up of media practitioners.

On May 3, Fahmi said the Malaysian Media Council Bill is currently in the discussion stage among media organisations, relevant companies and media practitioners’ associations.

He was reported as saying that the government is committed to ensuring press freedom.

The formation of the Malaysian Media Council was proposed at the National Journalists Day Forum in 2018 to represent the various media organisations in the country in combating fake news and ensuring the well-being of media practitioners. - Mkini