The proposed setting up of the Malaysian Press Council can help reduce pressure on the media, said National Press Club (NPC) president Mokhtar Hussain.

He said the press council would also be a channel for the media to present any proposals to further reduce pressure and open up media freedom.

Mohktar said the setting up of the council was timely owing to the changes in the current media landscape following the emergence of the Internet as an alternative information source.

"Hence, more freedom should be given to the press to play its role without fear and worries.

"In principle, the formation of the press council had been agreed upon by senior editors of the country's leading newspapers and magazines," he told reporters during the NPC-AmBank-Milo Media Run 2011 in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Malaysian Press Council will likely be modelled along the lines of the media councils in India or United Kingdom to ensure that it will function effectively, he said, adding that a study was being conducted on their regulatory framework.

"We hope the media will be given more freedom of expression in conveying accurate and correct information to the public," he added.

AmBank Deputy group chief internal auditor Shamsul Bahrom flagged off the NPC-AmBank-Milo Media Run 2011 organised by the NPC at the NPC clubhouse at Jalan Tangsi here.

About 200 participants took part in the five km run which was divided into 10 categories, including men's and women's open and boys' and girls' under 18 events.

- Bernama