malaysiang
KUALA LUMPUR: The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) as an independent self-regulatory body involving various industry parties needs to be implemented immediately without further delay. In a joint statement, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) and Gerakan Media Merdeka Malaysia (GERAMM) stressed that the MMC (self-regulatory to enforce a code of ethics) should be given a mandate to protect journalists legally, physically, economically and socially.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the statement emphasized the importance of recognizing the role of media in society and maintaining its position at the highest level across all institutions in Malaysia. This statement was issued in conjunction with the 2024 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI), highlighting the urgency of the matter.
The statement further informed that the Media Solidarity Festival, organized by CIJ, GERAMM, the Dutch Embassy, and the U
nited Nations Country Team (UNCT), will take place on November 16 to spotlight related concerns. The event will feature live performances, bazaars, live podcasts, speaker sessions, and exhibitions fully showcasing journalists and ex-journalists. This is aimed at supporting their businesses and bringing attention to the economic challenges and difficulties journalists face while performing their duties.
The IDEI and the Media Solidarity Festival act as a pressing call to policy-makers and heads of media companies. The statement highlighted that the disregard for journalists’ rights and the harassment faced by democratic agents amidst threats to the media landscape cannot be tolerated.
