THE national consultation on the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has agreed to set up a steering committee, to discuss the next step to make the self-regulatory body a reality.

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) director Sonia Randhawa said the majority of the committee will comprise reporters, journalists’ associations and academics.

She said the committee aims to hold a meeting in the next three weeks, to come up with a draft bill or constitution by April 30.

“We are also aware that there is an urgent need to amend the legislative framework governing the media in Malaysia… and the government has committed to repealing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA), but they are also very keen to see progress on the idea of a media council as well.

“As media organisations and journalists have been complaining for decades about PPPA, we want to see the repeal happen as soon as possible, and that is why we want to expedite the formation of MMC.

“But, we want to see the repeal of PPPA happening first, or at least, alongside (the council’s formation),” she said after the two-day conference concluded today.

The conference, jointly organised by CIJ and the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, brought together stakeholders to work on a road map for the media’s self-regulation.

The prime minister’s special adviser on media and communications, A. Kadir Jasin, delivered a keynote address on the first day of the conference. – Bernama, March 5, 2019.