A media veteran today questioned the government's seriousness in keeping its promise to the press on a proposal to set up a National Press Council.

Karangkraf Group executive editorial adviser Abdul Jalil Ali told reporters that the idea for an independent press council was mooted since the time of second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein in 1973.

"But it (the proposal) has been like a game of tug of war between media and the government," said Abdul Jalil when met on the sidelines of a Malaysian Press Institute forum held at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Abdul Jalil said he was personally involved in the process to call for the formation of a media council, together with MPI executive director Chamil Wariya and former veteran editor the late Zainon Ahmad, among others.

"In the latest development, we went to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and submitted what has been decided by media practitioners, on the need for a media council.

"We felt there needed to be a forum for those who felt aggrieved by the media, to refer to the media council," he said.

Abdul Jalil said at the time it appeared as if the proposal would be accepted but it was later shelved without any explanations following a change of the Home Minister.

According to media reports, the MPI had in 2001 handed over a draft Bill to the AGC.

The idea had been reportedly revived in 2008 during the tenure of Land Public Transport Commission chairperson Syed Hamid Albar as then Home Minister.

After nearly 40 years of involvement in the newspaper industry, Abdul Jalil said he now feels there are more than enough laws that govern or affect media operations.

Among concerns that have been reportedly raised against the proposal include the fact that it could add another layer of government restriction on the press.

There were also calls for the government to repeal existing laws that govern the press, before setting up a media council that would serve as a self-regulatory body.

Abdul Jalil earlier moderated a forum session on 'Media, Law and the State' featuring panelists Malaysian Islamic Strategic Research Institute chief executive officer Prof Mohamed Nasir Disa and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Malaysian and International Research Centre former fellow Mohd Safar Hashim.