Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said though he would welcome less regulations pertaining to the media, the media still needed a governing body to ensure responsible reporting and added that akin to the Bar Council, the media council would be the perfect vehicle.
The National Media Council (NMC), which is still in the pipeline, will be a good neutral third party to regulate the media and protect the public from slanderous and irresponsible reporting, he said.
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
“It will be able to guide the media to adhere to media ethics. Now, people say that if the media were to say not to talk of racial issues, it is the directive of the government. Now, let the media regulate themselves,” Ahmad Shabery said.
He said that despite the country being perceived as lacking freedom of speech and overall press freedom, Malaysia did not practice “cheque book” or “envelope journalism”.
“There are developing countries which have a free press but on the Transparency International list these countries have a high rate of corruption.
The media, which should check the government from engaging in corruption, also practices corruption.
“People, who want popularity, give envelopes (containing money) to journalists and editors for more media coverage. In this context, the government becomes more corrupt because the media is also corrupt, this trend was currently unheard of in Malaysia.” he said.
The National Media Council (NMC), which is still in the pipeline, will be a good neutral third party to regulate the media and protect the public from slanderous and irresponsible reporting, he said.
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
“It will be able to guide the media to adhere to media ethics. Now, people say that if the media were to say not to talk of racial issues, it is the directive of the government. Now, let the media regulate themselves,” Ahmad Shabery said.
He said that despite the country being perceived as lacking freedom of speech and overall press freedom, Malaysia did not practice “cheque book” or “envelope journalism”.
“There are developing countries which have a free press but on the Transparency International list these countries have a high rate of corruption.
The media, which should check the government from engaging in corruption, also practices corruption.
“People, who want popularity, give envelopes (containing money) to journalists and editors for more media coverage. In this context, the government becomes more corrupt because the media is also corrupt, this trend was currently unheard of in Malaysia.” he said.
1 comment:
with the emerging and the effectiveness of of new media,the media council seems to be the toothless body to control the dissemination of information.
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