The government is not ready to drop its proposal of a state-led media consultative council, despite receiving heavy opposition from editors of leading publications in its first meeting to discuss the matter on Monday.

azlan Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur today, Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said he believes that there are many in the media circle who support the idea.

"We have yet (decided to call it off). Quite a number (from the media) agree to it, but those who are quite elitist have not yet come to a consensus to agree to it. So we will take (the feedback from the meeting) as comparison," he said.

Nevertheless, Rais said the government has no problem dropping the proposal - jointly-sponsored by his ministry and the Home Ministry - eventually if it is found that the majority are against it.

"This is just a suggestion, and if the response is not good, it's not a problem, as long as the media remains responsible and abide to the relevant laws.

"All we want is cooperation. We have no other intentions," he said.

The ministry is also open to the idea of the media setting up their own council, as "a sort of media alliance has to exist", he added.

"It's up to them, but it has to abide with the law."

Editors fear losing credibility

The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry secretary-general Kamaruddin Siaraf had on Monday chaired a meeting with print media editors to discuss the proposal for a consultative council co-chaired by Rais and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

About 20 of the council members proposed are government officials including from the Prime Minister’s Office, National Security Council and the Information Department’s Special Functions Unit (Jasa).

Among others, the council is mooted for a “harmonious” working relationship between the government and media members and to develop “joint-communication strategies on recurring issues”.

Editors had at the meeting raised concern over the council’s effect on their credibility, which would further hurt waning circulation.

The government, however, insists that it will not be another layer of control, as there are already enough laws for that.

The print media is controlled by the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, while broadcast media is controlled by the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

These Acts do not extend to online media.