'Different priorities' on reforms by other ministries than Media Council

 

The Digital Communications Ministry has listed forming an independent media council among its top priorities.

However, deputy minister Teo Nie Ching said other ministries may not necessarily place the same urgency on accompanying legal reforms.

Speaking at a panel session hosted by the Foreign Correspondence Club of Malaysia, she noted that it would be ideal for both aspects - the latter being repeal or amendments of restrictive laws - to happen simultaneously.

"But yes, I must admit, different ministries perhaps have other priorities.

"Setting up the media council is indeed our, my ministry's priority," Teo said.

She was responding to questions surrounding the government's commitment to set up an independent media council and repeal or amend restrictive laws.

The laws in question include the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) and the Official Secrets Act 1972 - both under the purview of the Home Ministry.

"Setting up a media council is my ministry's priority.

"I need to try to make sure that we can finalise the (independent media council) bill as soon as possible and bring it to the parliament to get it done as soon as possible.

"But you are talking about other ministries when involving the Official Secrets Act, Printing Press and Publications Act, so then I am afraid I cannot speak on their behalf," she said.

Teo said this during a joint discussion session with The Edge CEO Ho Kay Tat and Sunway University associate professor Pauline Leong.

In the coalition's 15th general elections manifesto, Pakatan Harapan had promised to repeal or review the PPPA, the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

However, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had in April said the PPPA and the Sedition Act 1948 were still needed to preserve public peace and security.

Earlier, Ho raised concerns that having a media council while at the same time retaining authorities' power to take action will be counter-productive.

‘Concerned’

"I'm a bit concerned because it will be another layer of control.

"Media practitioners will have another body to deal with, which is a concern," he said.

Ho also said the concept of a media council to push for more freedom of the press could be outdated today when media outlets face more significant economic threats to sustaining operations.

On the proposal that Malaysia look at legislation that would compel social media platforms to pay news outlets for their content, Teo said the ministry had received initial recommendations based on Australia's law enforced since 2021. - Mkini