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THE Government has reiterated its commitment to upholding media freedom while ensuring accountability and professional conduct through the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMM) under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025 [Act 868].
In a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the MADANI Government recognises media freedom as a vital pillar of democracy but emphasised that such freedom must be exercised responsibly and ethically.
“The MADANI Government continues to respect the principle of media freedom as one of the core pillars of the nation’s democratic system. However, this freedom must be practised responsibly and guided by professional journalistic ethics,” the minister said.
He explained that the media plays a dual role — to ensure government transparency and accountability, and to provide accurate and balanced information to the public.
To strengthen these principles, the Malaysian Media Council was formally established following the enforcement of Act 868 on 14 June 2025, and held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 7 November 2025.
“We congratulate the council members elected through voting by industry representatives, with a notable achievement that 50 per cent of those appointed are women. The AGM also approved the Code of Conduct and Complaints Mechanism, marking an important step towards a more ethical, professional, and trusted media ecosystem,” the minister said.
The council comprises three categories of members: Media Companies (Category A), which includes media organisations; Journalists and Independent Media Practitioners (Category B); and the Public, including non-governmental organisations (Category C).
Operating under the principle of “of the media, by the media, for the media,” the MMM functions not only as a self-regulatory body for journalistic ethics but also as a mechanism to address public grievances against the media.
A disciplinary framework under Act 868 empowers the council to take action against members found to have breached the act’s provisions, including those related to the code of ethics, guidelines, or directives issued by the council or board.
The minister said the move aims to build a credible, responsible media landscape that upholds professionalism while maintaining public trust .- November 12, 2025