Malaysian Media Council enters Phase 2 of complaints mechanism, email submissions no longer accepted

KUCHING (April 8): The Malaysian Media Council (MMM) has moved into Phase 2 of its Complaints Mechanism, effective April 8 to Sept 30, as part of ongoing efforts to streamline and strengthen the media industry’s self-regulatory processes.

In Phase 2, MMM stipulates that all complaints must be submitted through the official MMM form, and will no longer accept complaints via email.

“This change is implemented to ensure that every complaint is recorded, assessed, and processed in a more systematic, transparent, and accountable manner,” the council said in a statement.

MMM said it will continue to adopt the interim approach introduced in Phase 1.

“If a complainant has not yet submitted their complaint directly to the relevant media organisation, the Secretariat will act as a facilitator by forwarding the complaint to the respective party for appropriate action.

“This approach aligns with the principle that resolution should begin at the level of the media organisation itself before further intervention,” it added.

The public is encouraged to refer to the MMM Code of Conduct and the mechanism guidelines prior to submitting a complaint, to ensure that each case falls within the council’s scope and jurisdiction.

During Phase 1, which ran from Jan 22 to March 31, MMM said it received five complaints, involving issues such as reporting accuracy, unauthorised use of images, the impact of content on social harmony, and ethical considerations in reporting.

“All complaints were resolved within that period, achieving a 100 per cent resolution rate at the initial screening stage, reflecting the effectiveness of the filtering function and clarity of eligibility criteria,” it added.

MMM emphasised that this mechanism is not punitive in nature, but rather aims to strengthen accountability, improve journalistic practices, and build public trust in the media through a fair, professional, and self-regulatory process.

Further information and access to the official complaint form can be found on the MMM website at majlismedia.my.