ID :
27539
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 18:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/27539
The shortlink copeid
MEDIA COUNCIL CAN PROTECT ALL PARTIES FROM IRRESPONSIBLE REPORTING: MINISTER
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- 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, Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Thursday.
He said that 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.
"If we have the National Media Council as desired, the people, the
government and the media itself can avail of justice from the possibility of
assault, slander and unfair treatment by the media.
"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 told reporters
after
launching the World Information Day and Forum on "Trends and Future of the
Malaysian Mass Media" at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia's first and leading local
university here.
When asked whether the media council would supplement or replace the
Printing Presses and Publications Act, Ahmad Shabery said he was not in a
position to elaborate as the legislation was not under his portfolio.
He said that despite the country being perceived as lacking freedom
of speech and overall press freedom, Malaysia did not practise "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
practises 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," he said.
Ahmad Shabery said this trend was currently unheard of in Malaysia.
He said that 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.
"If we have the National Media Council as desired, the people, the
government and the media itself can avail of justice from the possibility of
assault, slander and unfair treatment by the media.
"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 told reporters
after
launching the World Information Day and Forum on "Trends and Future of the
Malaysian Mass Media" at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia's first and leading local
university here.
When asked whether the media council would supplement or replace the
Printing Presses and Publications Act, Ahmad Shabery said he was not in a
position to elaborate as the legislation was not under his portfolio.
He said that despite the country being perceived as lacking freedom
of speech and overall press freedom, Malaysia did not practise "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
practises 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," he said.
Ahmad Shabery said this trend was currently unheard of in Malaysia.
