Govt finalising members of Media Council - deputy minister

Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said her ministry is finalising the founding members of the Malaysian Media Council.

She said there are three categories of founding members: media organisations, media-related NGOs and media practitioners, as well as academics, including those with an active role in the matter.

“Based on the list I received from the chairperson of the Pro-tem Committee (of the Media Council) on July 22, we have 15 media companies, seven media associates, nine media practitioners, and seven non-media members so far.

“So, anyone interested in joining the Malaysian Media Council as a founding member can contact the pro-tem committee or me. They can look at the draft bill and, if they agree with it, they can join as a founding member,” she said.

Teo (above) was speaking at a press conference after visiting the Tamil Malar newspaper headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

She said that once this process is completed, the draft bill for the Media Council will be presented to the cabinet and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for approval.

“But of course, we can’t take forever to wait for everyone to get endorsed. If all goes well, we hope to bring this bill to Parliament in the upcoming session,” she said.

Ensuring responsible reporting

The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council is aimed at developing and implementing a code of ethics for reporting that can enhance the profession and ensure responsible reporting.

It is also to encourage communication between media practitioners, the government, and the public, besides supporting the development of journalists and media organisations.

Also present during today’s visit were National Unity Deputy Minister K Saraswathy and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran.

On today’s programme, Teo said it was a courtesy visit to Tamil Malar to build stronger relationships between the Tamil media and her ministry.

“Our intention is to visit one media organisation after another to establish a relationship where they understand that we are very approachable. If they face any problems, we are ready to assist,” she said.

Earlier, Teo and Kulasegaran spent time mingling with Tamil Malar staff and distributing Jalur Gemilang flags in conjunction with the National Month celebrations.

- Bernama

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