Malaysia media council officially launches to uphold integrity and ethics

Malaysia has taken a significant step towards promoting ethical journalism and safeguarding media freedom with the official appointment of the founding board members of the newly established Malaysia media council (Majlis media Malaysia, MMM).

On 15 July 2025, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil handed letters of appointment to six of the 12 founding board members in a ceremony held in Putrajaya. The appointments follow the enforcement of the Malaysia Media Council Act 2025 [Act 868], which came into effect on 14 June 2025.

Don't miss: MY govt mulls mandatory labelling of AI-generated content

The establishment of MMM marks the start of a new self-regulatory era for Malaysia’s media landscape, positioning the council as an independent body that will champion integrity, transparency and responsible journalism.

According to the Ministry of Communications, the board members were selected based on their expertise and contributions across journalism, academia, communications and media. The council’s formation is part of the government’s broader commitment under the government's framework to strengthen press freedom and ensure the public has access to credible, balanced, and ethical information.

Core objectives and functions

Outlined under Section 5(1) of the Act, the media council will serve several key functions:

• Establish standards and codes of conduct for both mainstream and independent media practitioners in line with ethical and responsible journalism;
• Promote the highest standards of journalistic ethics, media freedom and the rights of media professionals;
• Regulate professional conduct and ethics within the media sector;
• Facilitate open dialogue between media practitioners, the government and the public;
• Recommend legal reforms that support media freedom.

The council is envisioned to be an independent institution promoting ethical practices and self-accountability within the media industry. Fahmi said the council will serve as a critical check-and-balance platform, run by media professionals for the media industry. The founding board also appointed Malaysiakini's director Premesh Chandran as its interim chairperson, pending its election later this year during an AGM in November. 

Meet the 12 founding members of the media council:

• Wong Yang Yong – Managing Director, The Borneo Post & Utusan Borneo
• Datuk Sardathisa G.M. James – Editor-in-Chief, Daily Express Sabah
• Premesh Chandran – Director, Malaysiakini
• Ashwad Ismail – Editor-in-Chief, ASTRO Awani
• Teh Athira Mohamed Yusof – General Secretary, National Union of Journalists Malaysia
• Ronnie Teo Teck Wei – President, Kuching Division Journalists Association
• Mohd Radzi Abdul Razak – Director, Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM)
• Muthameez Manan Sendinathan – President, Tamil Media Association
• Mohd Azmyl Md Yusof – Senior Lecturer, Sunway University
• Gayathry S. Venkiteswaran – Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham Malaysia
• Celine Lim Kooi Hua – Managing Director, SAVE Rivers
• Terence Ooi Guan Tseng – Director, Wiki Impact

The establishment of the media council is a key milestone in Malaysia’s ongoing media reform, and is expected to play a long-term role in enhancing trust, integrity, and accountability in Malaysian journalism, the ministry said in a statement.

Separately, the council is set to open its membership sign-ups next month, according to a Bernama report. The founding board members said, there will be a nominal fee of RM10, and applications can be submitted via the media council website. Registration will be open until September, to media owners, professionals, individuals and organisations involved in the media ecosystem, and those "representing the public's interest". 

The council was also quoted by Bernama as saying that its structure was created to ensure diverse representation, with its founding board comprising elected members from media publishers, professionals, and public interest organisations such as academic institutions and civil society groups.

The government may also appoint two representatives to the board. In line with the MMC Act 2025, at least a quarter of the board must consist of members from Sabah and Sarawak, and the council’s leadership is required to reflect gender balance, marking a first for the country.

The media council was officially inaugurated in June, and the Media Council Bill was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in February this year. 

At the beginning of 2024, the Communications Ministry launched a new Malaysian Code of Ethics for journalists. This marks the first time the journalism ethics manual has been reviewed after 35 years since its inception in 1989 by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI). The revised code of ethics, was aimed at lifting the quality of journalism in Malaysia and increase the trust of the people in the media.

However within a week, there were already pushbacks to the new code of ethics. The Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) released a statement calling the code of ethics a "blatant bid" by the government to "control and censor" the media and freedom of speech. 

Related articles: 
Media organisations must understand how younger gen consume news, says Fahmi
News agencies should harness AI to combat misinformation, says Fahmi Fadzil
Fahmi Fadzil launches new Malaysia Code of Ethics for journalists