KUALA LUMPUR: A group of civil society organisations have commended the tabling of the Malaysian Media Council Bill in parliament yesterday.
In a joint statement, the organisations lauded the government for its commitment to establishing the bill, calling it "a progressive institution" that would strengthen the media's critical role in democracy.
"This council is expected to preserve media freedom and enable the public to make informed decisions, fostering a more participative democracy.
"As a multi-stakeholder and self-regulatory mechanism, this will enable the media industry to strengthen its critical role as the fourth estate of democracy and rebuild its trust in society," they said.
However, they expressed serious concerns about provisions in the bill that could undermine its independence and effectiveness.
Among the issues raised was the inclusion of government representatives on the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) board, which the group said could compromise the council's autonomy.
"The inclusion of two government-appointed representatives with full voting and decision-making powers goes against the purpose of a self-regulatory body.
They added that such a move risks government interference, potentially threatening media freedom and the bill's mission to promote independence.
Another contentious provision was the requirement for the bill to seek ministerial approval when receiving foreign grants.
The organisations argued that this could jeopardise the council's financial independence.
"The independence of the bill Fund is crucial, and requiring ministerial approval for grants undermines that independence," they said.
The group also criticised the absence of provisions in the bill to repeal restrictive laws, including the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and Section 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998.
They said recent amendments to the CMA that expand the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's powers were particularly concerning.
"These powers could be used to access journalists' sources, which poses a serious threat to press freedom," they said.
The group also called on the government to address these issues before the bill's second reading in parliament.
They urged the removal of government representatives from the MMC board and recommended replacing the requirement for ministerial approval of foreign grants with a more transparent notification system.
They also raised the need to repeal or reform outdated and repressive laws that hinder media freedom.
"The Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, and the Official Secrets Act are just a few examples of laws that need urgent review.
"Without such reforms, the MMC's ability to uphold media independence will be severely limited," they said.
The statement was endorsed by 10 organisations, including the Centre for Independent Journalism, Gerakan Media Merdeka, Sisters in Islam, Amnesty International Malaysia, and Article 19.