I refer to the Malaysiakini report Khairy all out for press freedom .

The MP for Rembau, Khairy Jamaluddin, in a rare occasion for a Barisan Nasional leader, endorsed calls for press freedom. He agreed that the mainstream media need to reform to regain credibility and suggested a roadmap to press freedom. For a start, he called for a Press Council to prepare for the eventual repeal of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA).

It is heartening that there are members of the Barisan Nasional who take up concerns of civil society groups to have a free and independent media. The Centre for Independent Journalism called for a road map towards press freedom following the statement by the Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar that he was considering relaxing some provisions in the PPPA. The road map was also our theme during the World Press Freedom Day activities on May 3 this year.

The credibility crisis of the mainstream media is a result of editors compromising on ethical standards due to political pressure and interference in the newsrooms. Laws, principally the PPPA, Official Secrets Act, Defamation Act and others have created an environment where ethical practices are not upheld due to the risks of potential shutdown and loss of revenue.

We believe that the media's credibility can be restored if it strengthens its ethics and if the laws that curtailed press freedom were repealed.

Hence, any talk of a press council is premature. Yes, there are many countries with press councils, but we must be mindful that there are bad press councils too. And bad councils will not necessary address the problems spelt out by Khairy.

So let’s not jump into an idea without sorting out the source of the problem - the bad laws. Unfortunately this is where members of the cabinet are refuse to budge.

Khairy's support would be more fruitful if he joins the initiative by other MPs to create a parliamentary caucus on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information, which, incidentally was first mooted in 2007 by a former Barisan MP, Wong Nai Chee.

In addition, we hope that Khairy will impress upon the leadership to have consultations with the civil society groups on measures towards press freedom.

The writer is executive director, Centre for Independent Journalism.