Former federal court judge appointed chairperson of Malaysia Media Council

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The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has appointed Nallini Pathmanathan (pictured left) as its chairperson, marking a significant step in the establishment of the country's new media self-regulatory body.

The appointment was unanimously agreed upon by the council's board members during a meeting held on 26 May 2026, according to a statement by the MMC.

The council said the appointment represents an important milestone as it seeks to strengthen its role as an independent, credible and public-interest-driven body overseeing media standards and accountability in Malaysia.

Pathmanathan retired from Malaysia's Federal Court in February 2026 after 18 years on the bench. During her judicial career, she served across all three tiers of the superior courts and authored approximately 325 reported judgments, including landmark decisions in constitutional and commercial law.

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Before joining the judiciary, she spent more than two decades in private practice with Skrine. She currently serves as an arbitrator and mediator, and holds several international appointments, including vice chair of the International Bar Association's Judges Forum, a member of the Steering Group of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts, and a judge of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre.

According to the council, her longstanding commitment to judicial independence, the rule of law and access to justice positions her well to lead the organisation as it begins its mandate of fostering a free, responsible and self-regulating media landscape.

Under Pathmanathan's leadership, the council stated that it will prioritise institutional development, implementation of a media code of conduct, the creation of a trusted complaints framework and efforts to improve public understanding of the media's role in a democratic society.

The council also intends to focus on legal reforms affecting journalists, media organisations and public access to information, while advocating for a more balanced legal environment that supports freedom of expression, ethical journalism and the public interest.

"The Malaysian Media Council is confident that Pathmanathan's leadership will help guide the council into a more mature, independent and credible phase, with a focus on three key foundations: standards, ethics and freedom."

The appointment comes as the media industry faces mounting challenges, including economic pressures, technological disruption, artificial intelligence, misinformation, threats against journalists and declining public trust.

Established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025, the MMC serves as the country's media self-regulatory body. Its responsibilities include strengthening journalistic standards, administering a public complaints mechanism, promoting ethical media practices and safeguarding media freedom.

It officially launched in July 2025 with the appointment of the founding board members of council. At the time, Malaysiakini's director Premesh Chandran was named its interim chairperson, pending its election later during an AGM in November.