He said while talks of such a body have been going on for a long time, it has yet to become a reality.

“There are many (media-related) associations in Malaysia but none function as an ‘umbrella’ body.

“It is time to create a body that can be a voice (to media practitioners),” he said in his welcoming speech at the National Media Forum in conjunction with National Journalists Day (Hawana) 2022 in Banda Hilir here.

The Hawana 2022 celebration, themed “Suara Jelata, Aspirasi Negara” (“People’s Voice, National Aspiration”), will be officiated by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob later today.

In this regard, Mokhtar hoped that Hawana 2022 can be a catalyst for the establishment of a special body that involves both young and senior journalists.

On the National Media Forum, Mokhtar said it could serve as a platform for every news editor to think about the future of journalism in Malaysia.

“Hence, today’s forum is important for the future of journalists and journalism in Malaysia,” he said.

The Hawana 2022 celebration this morning began with two sessions of the National Media Forum themed “Kewartawanan Era Revolusi Industri Keempat: Cabaran dan Peluang” (“Journalism in the Fourth Era of the Industrial Revolution: Challenges and Opportunities”).

The first discourse was entitled “Memahami Perubahan Landskap Media dan Kewartawanan Model Baharu: Cabaran Kelestarian” (“Understanding the Changing Media Landscape and New Model Journalism: Sustainability Challenges”).

Three panellists were invited to discuss the matter — Free Malaysia Today managing editor Jasbant Singh, former Malaysiakini chief executive officer Premesh Chandran, and Media Mulia Group editor Azlan Jaafar.

The second discourse entitled “Kewartawanan 2030: Mengintai Landskap Masa Depan Media” (“Journalism 2030: Looking at the Future Landscape of Media”) had three panellists, namely national journalist Johan Jaaffar, Daily Express editor-in-chief Zulhayati Dzulkifli, and Malaysian Journalism Teachers Association president Ahmad Murad Merican.