The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) said it is a self-regulatory body, not a government agency, amid confusion among media practitioners over its functions and authority [1, 2].
The MMC was established in 2025 and officially came into effect on June 14, 2025, under the Malaysian Media Council Act number 868 [1, 2]. It was created to respond to challenges facing the media industry, including pressure from social media, AI-driven disruption, doxxing incidents, economic constraints on newsrooms, and declining public trust in the media [1, 2].
MMC’s roles focus on setting journalistic ethical standards, establishing a code of conduct, managing complaints mechanisms, and promoting training and professional development for media practitioners [1, 2]. Its structure includes representatives from media companies, media associations, independent media practitioners, and non-media members to provide balanced decision-making [1, 2].
MMC has also introduced an online formal complaints mechanism and prefers a "standards support" approach over solely disciplinary responses when addressing issues like reporter safety and online harassment [1].
MMC secretary Radzi Razak said the council faces misconceptions about its role. "Some view the MMC as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), some think it is a government agency, while others assume it can directly punish or instruct media organisations. In reality, the MMC is a self-regulatory institution that requires the participation of the industry itself," he explained [2].
Razak further emphasized that the council "must be neither too passive nor too silent in fulfilling its role to criticize media ethics violations and defend journalists under pressure" [1].
MMC’s effectiveness, officials say, should be judged by its structure, governance processes, and track record of decisions, rather than broad claims of independence [1, 2].
On May 29, 2026, Radzi Razak gave an interview clarifying the council’s mandate and responding to ongoing misunderstandings about its authority and scope [1, 2].
