SHAH ALAM: The proposed National Media Consultative Council should be self-regulated by media practitioners with minimum government intervention, said former Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Datuk Seri Azman Ujang.
Azman, who welcomed the formation of the council, said the move would enable media freedom in the country to be practised positively.

“Many such councils in the Commonwealth countries are being managed by media practitioners themselves with less government intervention. Maybe, in Malaysia it will be good for the media in the long run,” he told Bernama after moderating a forum themed, ‘21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers’, held in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day at Universiti Selangor (Unisel), yesterday.

The forum, participated by high-ranking media practitioners, was jointly organised by Unisel and the Asian Institute for Development Communication (AIDCOM).

It was opened by Selangor executive councillor Dr Halimah Ali who represented Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim had said that the Government planned to set up the National Media Consultative Council.

He said the proposal, which would be worked out by his ministry and the Home Ministry, would be tabled to the Cabinet this year.

Azman said media practitioners should not have a pre-conceived idea that the media consultative council was going to be another layer of regulations governing the media.

“Many media practitioners, especially the editors-in-chief, objected to the proposal of setting up a media consultative council, thinking it would be another layer of law which will restrain media freedom. The proposal has nothing to do with it,” said the veteran journalist.

“The media consultative council should serve as a body to discipline journalists who write unethical news reports.”

He said the council could play a similar role as that of the Bar Council which handled complaints about lawyers.

Azman also said that he would give his input to the relevant parties on the setting up of the media council.

“I would suggest that the word ‘consultative’ be dropped from the proposed council and change it to National Media Council only. This is to avoid public misconception that the council is consulting with (the Government on certain matters).

Meanwhile, Abdul Khalid in his speech said the 2010 Press Freedom Index published by the media watch group, ‘Reporters without Borders’, ranked Malaysia at the 141st position, a regression of 10 positions over that of the previous year. - Bernama