IPOH: The Malaysian Media Council Bill is expected to be tabled in parliament at the latest in March 2024.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on 30 May his ministry was in the final phase of drafting the bill before conducting engagement sessions with media industry players.
The bill aims to regulate the media industry in Malaysia, establish a code of conduct and dispute resolution procedure for public complaints against the media, and establish a budget for the council.
We will forward the draft to the Attorney-General's chambers for review, and then it will be brought to the cabinet. After the cabinet approves, it will be tabled in parliament next week, Mr Fahmi said.
We expect it to be at the latest in 2024 when parliament is in session or at the latest in the first session in 2024, around March. Fahmi made the comments at a media conference held after the National Journalists Day HAWANA 2023 event that was officiated by Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday.
After the HAWANA bill was tabled and approved, he said that after the bill was tabled and approved, subsequent HAWANA events could be managed and conducted by the Malaysian Media Council in line with the prime minister's intent.
He also said that his ministry is studying issues related to advertising expenditure brought up by media practitioners during previous engagement sessions.
I have received some initial framework on mechanisms used by other countries. But he added, to review and adapt it to the local situation, we can form a task force for a more comprehensive engagement process.
After that process is complete, we can bring a draft to the attorney-general's chambers, followed by the cabinet, he said. Fahmi said he hoped that industry players will continue giving ideas and suggestions to refine the framework.
On the initial RM 1 million US $217,344 funding for Tabung Kasih Hawana, an initiative to help veterans and former media practitioners who face health and financial issues, Fahmi said it would bolster engagement efforts by his ministry.
I really do understand the situation they are in. Besides financial assistance, there are other aspects we can look at, for example, for them to find a new career or how they can benefit from the digital economy to survive, he said.