Deputy communications minister Teo Nie Ching assured that two government representatives on the 21-member MMC board would not compromise its independence, as they would likely be from government media agencies like RTM and Bernama.
“Two out of 21 people is a very small percentage,” she said during her winding-up speech before the bill was passed.
“To say that the MMC is no longer independent just because of these two representatives would be underestimating the integrity of the other board members, that include media practitioners, industry leaders, and academics.”
Teo also said the inclusion of government representatives was necessary as the MMC is a statutory body that will initially require government funding.
“The media industry itself, through the pro tem committee, requested financial assistance from the government for the first few years of the council’s operations.
“A finance ministry representative is therefore needed to ensure transparency in fund management,” she said.
Teo also dismissed concerns that the council could limit press freedom, saying it would instead protect journalists.
“If a journalist is unfairly taken to court, the findings of the MMC on ethical reporting could be taken into account in legal proceedings,” she said.
She added that the MMC would introduce a grievance and complaints mechanism to resolve disputes without costly legal action.
“We want the MMC to function as a self-regulatory body, issuing ethical standards and reviewing complaints. This will ensure media organisations remain accountable while protecting journalists from arbitrary government action,” Teo said.
Earlier during the debate, Hassan Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang) questioned why government representatives were needed, saying that it could affect the council’s independence.
He pointed to the Bar Council, which operates without government representatives, and suggested the MMC should do the same.
“If we can’t change it now, at least guarantee that these two representatives will not interfere in the council’s decisions,” he said.
Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) had asked why government funding would be given on a case-by-case basis rather than as a fixed budget item.
In response, Teo said media councils should eventually be self-funded, but government support was needed in the early years to ensure its establishment.
“We estimate that for the first few years, the council will require between RM3 million and RM5 million annually to establish itself,” she said.