KUALA LUMPUR: The second reading of the Malaysian Media Council Bill is expected in February, says Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She said that the bill, tabled last Thursday, aimed at enhancing journalism standards and protecting the welfare of media practitioners.
"The bill reflects the government's commitment to strengthening the media industry by supporting journalistic standards, promoting professionalism, developing an ethical reporting code, and establishing an independent, transparent complaints mechanism," she said at the launch of the Malaysian Press Institute's (MPI) training programme titled "Artificial Intelligence: Empowering Journalists on Content and Newsroom Management" today (Dec 17).
Also present were Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin, MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, and MPI CEO Ainol Amriz Ismail.
Teo said that the proposed Malaysian Media Council would provide a platform for resolving media disputes while fostering public trust in responsible and accurate reporting.
"The Media Council will outline the functions, powers, membership, and professional codes of conduct for media practitioners, contributing to political stability and national security," she said.
She also highlighted the two-day AI training programme, which is part of MPI's efforts to equip journalists with tools for automated writing, editing, and data analysis.
The programme will be conducted across six regions: Klang Valley, Sarawak, Sabah, Johor, Terengganu, and Penang, and will involve 120 media practitioners and 30 MCMC officers.
Teo said that AI automation could significantly enhance productivity in news production.
"AI can save up to 30 to 50 per cent of the time in news production, enabling journalists to analyse big data, streamline routine tasks, and better understand audience behaviour," she said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study.
However, she stressed the importance of using AI responsibly, ensuring that journalistic integrity was not compromised.
"Technologies such as deepfakes pose a serious threat to the authenticity of information. Journalists must not only fact-check but also verify that their sources have not been manipulated by technology," she said.
Teo said that proper training and a strong understanding of technology were essential to leverage AI's benefits without sacrificing journalistic standards.