Five media organisations from the northern region have protested at the proposed Media Consultative Council, describing it as being "dominated" by the government.

The group includes the Penang Chinese Journalists and Photographers Association (Pemaju), Journalist Union of North Malaysia, Penang Press Club, Seberang Perai Journalist Association and Penang Press Workers Cooperative.

The group said that the council would only add to the deteriorating erosion of democracy in the media and would have a strong impact on the development and reputation of the mainstream media (MSM).

In the prevailing legal system, various laws - Printing Presses and Publications Act, Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act, Internal Security Act and the Multimedia and Communications Act have created a big challenge for the MSM to play a proper watchdog role, they said.

"As long as the Acts above are not abolished or reviewed, the credibility of the MSM continues to be undermined," they added.

"But now the government is interested in establishing the council which appears like another layer of control over the MSM," they stressed.

The main aims of the council include a "harmonious" working relationship between the government and media members and to develop "joint-communication strategies on recurring issues".

The proposal has been shot down by academics who described it as an effort to clam down on dissent.

Question is are they digging in?

Despite heavy opposition from editors of leading publications at its first meeting on the matter on Monday, it seems unlikely that the authorities would  back down on its objective.

NONE But Information Minister Rais Yatim ( in red cap) had said that the government has no problem dropping the proposal eventually if it is found that the majority are against it.

Meanwhile, the council's membership also took a hit from the group for drawing a quarter of the 85 members from government service , largely from the Home Ministry and the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry.

The two ministries are well known for "monitoring" the performance and development of the media.

The group pointed out that the Home Ministry is the media's licence-approving authority for printing and publication, and often 'invites' them for meetings.

"Moreover, the objective of this set-up 'to determine the direction of media development' and 'increase the spirit of patriotism', makes us concerned that the council is just another act by the government to determine the content of the MSM reports so that it would be pro-government," they lamented.

"This results in the MSM not being able to reflect (the goings-on) in the entire community," they added.

The group said there are various alternative channels easily accessible to the public for information, resulting in the community rejecting the MSM.

"Therefore, we as a media organisation urge the government to immediately abolish or amend restrictive laws to encourage media diversity, and not be so gung-ho in setting up a media consultative council," they said.

Meanwhile, the media group reiterated their stand that the council can be set up if represented by civil society.

It should also be given an opportunity for "self-regulation" and "self-monitoring" without any government interference, they added.

"At the same time, the government should play a role in helping to widen the space for media development and not restrict the flow of information by using backward tactics," they added.