Malaysian Media Council launches complaint channel to address journalistic practices

KUCHING (Jan 23): Members of the public, journalists, media organisations, and other stakeholders can now submit complaints regarding journalistic practices, media ethics, and news content to the Malaysian Media Council (MMM) through its official complaints mechanism.

The announcement follows the MMM Board Meeting on Jan 20 and 21 at Media Prima Headquarters in Bangsar, where the council discussed its strategic direction and the priorities of its four main committees: the Code of Conduct and Complaints Committee, the Law Reform and Media Literacy Committee, the Media Industry Sustainability and Professional Development Committee, and the Council Development and Funding Committee.

The board emphasised the need to strengthen media self-regulation, enhance professional accountability, and establish institutional mechanisms to address media-related issues in a fair and measured manner, particularly amid heightened public sensitivity toward media content.

In light of recent developments, including the issue involving China Press, MMM underscored such matters should be addressed through professional and institutional channels rather than through public pressure, intimidation, or punitive action.

MMM also noted police reports lodged over media content, and the statement by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil urging the council, as an independent statutory self-regulatory body, to ensure compliance with journalistic ethics while promoting responsible and accurate reporting.

The minister highlighted MMM’s role as a self-regulatory platform to professionally and impartially manage media-related complaints.

The council confirmed that its official complaints mechanism is now fully operational.

Complaints may be submitted via email at [email protected] or through the Council’s official website at https://majlismedia.my/complaints/.

The system, administered under the Code of Conduct and Complaints Committee, is designed as an independent, transparent, and non-punitive channel, emphasising fair correction, mediation, and editorial accountability while safeguarding media freedom.

The Chairperson of the Code of Conduct and Complaints Committee, Datin Paduka Esther Ng, said the board had thoroughly discussed and agreed on procedures for handling complaints.

“This paves the way for us to carry out our responsibilities in a structured and systematic manner, with clear SOPs in place.

“This is one of the most important duties of the Malaysian Media Council, and it is imperative that this mechanism be operationalised without delay,” she said.

MMM stresses that differences of opinion or dissatisfaction with media reporting—including cases attracting significant public attention—should be channelled through legitimate and ethical complaints mechanisms.

This approach is crucial to prevent tensions that could undermine journalist safety, media freedom, and public trust.

Under the Malaysian Media Council Act, media organisations that are members of MMM are also required to establish their own internal complaints mechanisms as part of their editorial responsibility.

During this interim period, however, media-related complaints may still be submitted directly to MMM while media organisations complete or refine their respective internal systems.