PETALING JAYA: The Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 must be abolished before a Media Council can be set up, an NGO said today.
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said previous efforts to set up a media council started decades ago.
They did not succeed because the government would not abolish the PPPA, it said in a statement.
“To have both the PPPA and the Media Council exist simultaneously would defeat the purpose of having a self-regulatory body to regulate media standards.
“It would be difficult for the public and the media industry to take the Media Council seriously if the home ministry still has the power to send show cause letters to the media, summon editors and threaten to revoke licences.
“The setting up of the Media Council should be contingent on the abolishment of the PPPA.
“The Media Council is meant to improve media standards and ethics as well as contribute to the credibility of news media organisations by upholding international standards and in providing an avenue for the arbitration of public complaints.
“It is most useful in doing so when it is a voluntary exercise by the media industry, not mandated by the government,” CIJ said.
The NGO said PPPA, on the other hand, is about giving the government control over the media.
“We have seen it wielded over the years to ensure that the media toes the government line and does not threaten it politically.
“This has not necessarily raised ethical standards among the media as there have been many cases of unethical media practices that do not invite government sanction, as long as they were in line with the government’s political objectives.”
CIJ said it and many civil society groups have long advocated for repeal of the PPPA as it undermines the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and “does not constitute a legitimate, proportionate or reasonable restriction on this fundamental right”.
CIJ said it looked forward to working with the pro tem committee to work on the establishment of a self-regulatory Malaysian Media Council.
It welcomed the efforts of the government in facilitating the process of the setting up of the council and in conducting consultations with the media industry, civil society and other stakeholders.
It hoped that the government will sustain and step up its efforts to build a society where the freedom of expression is protected, including by fulfilling its election manifesto promises of abolishing the PPPA and other draconian laws.
Source and header picture credit: Free Malaysia Today
