'Press accountable for blunders, but avoid heavy-handed action'

Summary

• The Malaysian Media Council emphasises that media outlets are accountable for their content and must uphold professional standards, citing the recent Sinar Harian blunder regarding the new inspector-general of police.

• However, the founding board members warn against disproportionate punitive measures from authorities for reporting errors, advocating for better journalism and constructive accountability rather than intimidation or suppression.

The Malaysian Media Council’s founding board members have called for accountability and restraint in dealing with publishing errors, citing Sinar Harian’s recent erroneous graphic of the newly appointed inspector-general of police.

In a statement today, 12 members of the board emphasised the importance of newsroom responsibility, stating that all media outlets must uphold professional standards and adhere to ethical journalism practices.

“We affirm that all media must be held accountable for their content. Newsrooms should have robust operating procedures aligned with media ethics and professional journalism standards,” it said.

Yesterday, the Malay daily announced that it had suspended staff involved in the publication of an infographic which wrongly stated that IGP Khalid Ismail was a PKR member.

Khalid, who reiterated that he was never a member of PKR or other political parties, has reportedly accepted a meeting request from Sinar Harian.

Earlier today, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also said the ministry may summon Sinar Harian over the incident.

Action should be proportionate

The Malaysian Media Council board, however, warned against disproportionate reactions from authorities, stressing that reporting errors should not be met with punitive measures.

“Invoking punitive laws to penalise the press undermines media freedom. The remedy for flawed journalism is better journalism - not intimidation or suppression,” it added.

“We believe the meeting between the two parties will resolve the matter constructively,” the board members said, adding that while mistakes are regrettable, they are not uncommon across professions.

“What matters is how they are addressed. The media must, in turn, respond to such lapses with transparency, humility, and a commitment to improve.”

The council further reiterated the need for rigorous fact-checking, especially when reporting on key national institutions, and underscored its commitment to fostering a media environment grounded in responsible and ethical journalism.

“Although the Media Council is not yet formally constituted, this moment compels us to reaffirm the fundamental values of responsible journalism,” it said.

“We believe that constructive accountability - rather than punitive control - is the best way to build a stronger, more trustworthy media landscape in Malaysia.”

The Malaysian Media Council, which is established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025, comprises representatives from media owners, media practitioners and non-media.

The founding board members, announced during the National Journalists Day function earlier this month, comprise:

Media owners: Premesh Chandran (Malaysiakini), Ashwad Ismail (Astro Awani), Phyllis Wong (Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo), and James Sarda (Sabah Publishing House)

Media practitioners: Radzi Razak (Gerakan Media Merdeka), Teh Athira Yusof (National Union of Journalists Malaysia), Ronnie Teo (Kuching Division Journalists Association), and Muthameez Manan (Tamil Media Association)

Non-media practitioners: Gayathry Venkiteswaran (University of Nottingham Malaysia), Azmyl Yunor (Sunway University), Celine Lim (Save Rivers), and Terence Ooi Guan Tseng (Wiki Impact).

The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council is aimed towards better self-regulation of the media, based on its own code of ethics.

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