Communication and Multimedia Minister, YB Gobind Deo has reiterated on the formation of a Media Council after meeting with local media agencies and this time he has confirmed that it will be done by year end.

This was the first time the Minister met up officially with all the relevant parties including representatives from the media, academics and Attorney General office to discuss on part of Pakatan Harapan’s GE14 pledge to form a media council. During the meeting it was concluded the formation of the Council will be done under the Parliament Act with new laws enacted focusing on 5 key aspects which includes functions and objective of the council, constitution and membership, code of ethics, mechanisms to resolve disputes and possible amendments to available laws when the Council is enacted,

Gobind has instructed his department to prepare initial drafts as soon as within this 2 weeks followed by the appointment of a pro tem committee consisting of media members to study the proposals. A major overhaul of the way media has been conducting in the country is coming soon, the Act promises more freedom to express and is said to be in compliant with Human Rights laws. The call has been for the Council not to act as a regulatory outfit but more as an advisory panel to the Government on press matters as journalists are already known to be prescribing self restraint on what to publish and what not. However, while self-regulation is strongly advocated it must not only provide protection for members of the profession but also hold them accountable to their profession and hold press outlets accountable to the public.

Both traditional and online media will be well represented in the council, Kadir Jasin a veteran newsman and strong critic together with MalaysiaKini Premesh Chandran are known to promote independency of media outlets and will sure remind the good minister on his campaign promise. Media often referred to as the fourth pillar of democracy after the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary can finally operate without fear in this country, and by the looks of the Council assemble they will surely not be the Governments puppets.