In a statement, the department said this is aimed at curbing disinformation and to ensure these media outlets were active and legitimate.

It added that after the six months are up, the renewed media card will be valid for two years, similar to other local media outlets.

Meanwhile, local journalists working for foreign news outlets will now have media cards valid for two years, compared to just one year before this.

Media practitioners with annual contracts, such as part-time staff and stringers, will get cards valid for a year.

These changes are effective today.

The information department said the changes were intended to keep up with the evolving media landscape and ensure journalists adhere to standards for accuracy and reliability.

It added that all media cardholders need to be aware of the updated validity periods.

The National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) said the government should be transparent about reviewing how it issues media cards to journalists.

This follows a Malaysiakini report that the validity of new media cards for journalists from online media outlets would be shortened in future. A later report quoted the information department as saying it was “reviewing the SOPs for issuing media cards”.

In a statement, NUJ said the communications ministry should keep the two-year validity period for media cards, regardless of who the employer of the journalist is.

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