PUTRAJAYA, Dec 6 — The Cabinet today gave the nod for the Malaysian Media Council Bill to be tabled in Parliament next week, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi, who is also Unity Government spokesman, said it is good news for the media fraternity.
“The Malaysian Media Council Bill has been approved by the Cabinet to be brought to Parliament, so we will table it in Dewan Rakyat next week. If time permits, it will also be tabled for second reading and debated during this current sitting.
“If not, the bill has also been listed for debate in the next (Parliament) session. So, it’s on track finally,” he told a press conference here today.
On May 27, Fahmi reportedly said the Communications Ministry was in the final stages of realising the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council, a regulatory body to safeguard the interests of the media industry and practitioners.
The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council is aimed at developing and implementing a code of ethics for reporting that will empower the country’s journalism field and ensure news reporting is conducted responsibly.
Meanwhile, when asked whether the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks, and South Ledge was discussed at the Cabinet meeting, Fahmi said: “Not specifically.”
However, he said the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said informed the Cabinet that the RCI report will be tabled for debate in Parliament next week.
“MPs will debate the RCI report (next week). Even the Prime Minister had commented on this earlier, saying the report has revealed elements of betrayal,” he said.
The RCI report was distributed to all MPs yesterday.
The 217-page RCI report recommended a criminal investigation be initiated against former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad under Section 415(b) and Section 418 of the Penal Code.
— Bernama
