Law to determine code of conduct

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council Bill, which outlines the workings of the council that will move the media industry in the country towards self-regulation, has been tabled for its first reading.

Tabled by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, it outlines the functions of the council, its powers, membership, chairmanship, board of council, finance and grievances mechanism.

Under the Bill, the council will have to set standards and establish a code of conduct with ethical and responsible standards of journalism for media practitioners.

The code of conduct will have to be determined at a general meeting.

It will also have to promote the highest standards of ethical and responsible journalism, media independence and the rights of media practitioners, in addition to regulating ethics and professional conduct among the fraternity.

The council can also suggest law reforms, facilitate and conduct training, form and maintain a database with information on media practitioners, determine the grievances mechanism and disciplinary proceedings against a council member, among others.

According to Section 6(1), the council has the power to decide on matters related to membership, administration and management of the council, membership fees, charges or payments, and conduct inquiries on complaints against media practitioners and independent media practitioners.

A Malaysian Media Council Fund will also be set up.

The council will also have the power to require a member to furnish information to perform its functions and utilise properties under its name to raise money for the Malaysian Media Council Fund.Membership will be split into three categories, namely a media company represented by the media publisher or senior management, media association, as well as a category for non-media members.

These memberships will be subjected to yearly renewals for a fee.

The council will be governed by a board comprising a chairman who is not involved in politics, civil service or legislature, and two members representing the government.

Media companies, media associations and non-media members will have four members each with at least one woman and one representative each from Sabah and Sarawak.

The chairman and board members will be paid an allowance.

A board member shall hold office for two years.

The founding members will be appointed by the ministers.

There is also some protection against lawsuits.

“No action, suit, prosecution or other proceedings shall be brought, instituted or maintained in any court against the board or any committee established by the board on account of or in respect of any act, neglect or default done or omitted by them in the course of carrying out their duties, unless it can be proven that it was done or omitted in bad faith and without reasonable cause,” it added.