Deputy Information Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today reminded the Malaysian media to instil self-censorship in their reports and not to ape the western media standards.

He said that local journalists must show responsibility on writing and publishing articles.

"There is freedom of the press but do not be excessive," he was quoted as saying in Bernama .

The deputy minister added that it was the duty of media practitioners to adhere to journalistic ethics. They must guard that ethics, he added.

On that score, Ahmad Zahid said that a Malaysian Media Council would be set up as a mechanism to monitor ethics of media practitioners.

He was responding to articles published by the Malay Mail 's weekend edition which focused on teenagers and sex. The publication was criticised by ministers and politicians over their sexual overtones yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the daily had gone overboard, and that he received numerous calls complaining that the articles were extreme and should not have been published.

"It was published in some detail. Profit should not be made at the expense of society," said Najib.

The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad yesterday apologised unreservedly for the "offensive and distasteful" articles.

Govt as facilitator

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said that the Malaysian Media Council will be set up as part of the upgrading of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), as agreed by the cabinet on Oct 11.

A total of RM5 million has also been allocated with the upgrading. The grants will be used to hold training for journalists.

Ahmad Zahid said that his ministry had received positive feedback from the MPI and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) on the matter.

"Being a recognised body and authoritative in the media field, the Malaysian Media Council will co-operate with the government to create a harmonious relationship between the media and government," he said.

He also said that the government wanted the media industry to take the lead in setting up the council.

The media practitioners are aware of the needs and wishes of the media and the journalistic ethics of the country. The government can act as the facilitator, he added.

Nothing new

Self-censorship among the Malaysian media practitioners is not an alien subject-matter.

Only last month Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admitted as much, saying that the local press practices self-censorship.

"The Malaysian press have freedom... They also have a role to what I call self-censorship. The main press (practises) self-censor but ... other little ones ... print all sorts of things," Abdullah said in interview with the US news channel CNN .