KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Act comes into effect today, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.
Fahmi said he signed the gazette to enforce the Act, marking a significant milestone in reform for media practitioners.
“The Malaysian Media Council Act takes effect on June 14, 2025, coinciding with the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) (celebration).
“We symbolically chose to gazette and enforce the Malaysian Media Council Act in conjunction with HAWANA 2025,” he told a press conference following the HAWANA 2025 highlight at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL) here today.
Themed ‘Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics’, the event, attended by some 1,000 media practitioners from within and outside the country, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 project director, and the top management of local media companies.
Fahmi said he would hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC’s founding board soon to facilitate the council’s development process.
“I hope the MMC will serve as a meaningful platform and continue to operate regardless of who forms the government in the future,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Fahmi said the MMC founding board comprises 12 members, with four representatives from each category: media companies, media associations, media practitioners and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media members.
The HAWANA 2025 celebration is organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, aimed at recognising the role and contributions of media practitioners to national development.
May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists’ Day, in conjunction with the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.
