MMC Act comes into force today, marking new chapter in media reform
Fahmi said he signed the gazette to enforce the Act, marking a significant milestone in reform for media practitioners.
'The Malaysian Media Council Act takes effect on June 14, 2025, coinciding with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) (celebration).
'We symbolically chose to gazette and enforce the Malaysian Media Council Act in conjunction with HAWANA 2025,' he told a press conference following the HAWANA 2025 highlight at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL) here today.
Themed 'Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics', the event, attended by some 1,000 media practitioners from within and outside the country, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 project director, and the top management of local media companies.
Fahmi said he would hold a meeting with the 12 members of the MMC's founding board soon to facilitate the council's development process.
'I hope the MMC will serve as a meaningful platform and continue to operate regardless of who forms the government in the future,' he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Fahmi said the MMC founding board comprises 12 members, with four representatives from each category: media companies, media associations, media practitioners and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media members.
The HAWANA 2025 celebration is organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, aimed at recognising the role and contributions of media practitioners to national development.
May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists' Day, in conjunction with the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
7 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Bursa faces choppy week ahead as US tariff decision looms, says analyst
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — The risk of higher United States (US) tariffs on Malaysia as the Aug 1 deadline draws near is likely to weigh on Bursa Malaysia next week, although domestically-oriented counters are expected to remain relatively resilient, supported by firm internal demand and fiscal tailwinds. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said volatility is expected to intensify as markets approach a critical inflection point in global trade policy. 'Domestically-oriented counters on Bursa Malaysia are likely to remain relatively resilient. However, export-driven sectors may continue to face pressure in the absence of a favourable resolution to the tariff negotiations,' he told Bernama. He noted that no formal announcement has been made on the revised US tariff schedule for Malaysia. 'Should Malaysia succeed in securing a rate below the symbolic 20 per cent threshold, we anticipate renewed investor interest, particularly in the manufacturing and electrical and electronics sectors. Until then, most investors are expected to adopt a wait-and-see approach, prioritising capital preservation over risk-taking,' he said. Regionally, market focus is shifting towards renewed US–China trade diplomacy as Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is set to lead high-level negotiations in Sweden from July 27–30, ahead of the expiry of the 90-day tariff suspension on Aug 12. 'The outcome will be instrumental in shaping regional trade sentiment and broader market tone heading into August,' Mohd Sedek said. Globally, investor attention remains fixed on a packed US macroeconomic calendar, particularly with the upcoming the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on July 30, the June Personal Consumption Expenditure inflation print and July non-farm payrolls, which will provide important policy signals. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said market participants will turn their focus to China's July Purchasing Managers Index as well as Eurozone Consumer Price Index. For the week just ended, optimism spurred by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 'appreciation package' and renewed confidence in domestic fiscal support lifted utilities and consumer counters, but the momentum proved short-lived as broad-based selling later overshadowed mid-week support from telco stocks. For the week under review, the benchmark index rose 7.90 points to 1,533.76 on Friday from 1,525.86 a week earlier. The FBM Emas Index increased 26.99 points to 11,506.82 and the FBMT 100 Index gained 28.03 points to 11,269.72, but the FBM Emas Shariah Index slid 8.89 points to 11,528.98, the FBM 70 Index dipped 90.15 points to 16,607.57 and the FBM ACE Index dropped 32.77 points to 4,639.02. By sector, the Financial Services Index jumped 99.4 points to 17,454.23, the Plantation Index reduced 7.10 points to 7,434.79 and the Energy Index went up 0.21 of a point to 739.85. Weekly turnover narrowed to 11.92 billion units worth RM11.43 billion from 15.53 billion units worth RM11.77 billion in the previous week. Main Market volume slid to 6.63 billion units valued at RM9.70 billion compared with 6.73 billion units valued at RM10.07 billion previously. Warrant turnover grew to 7.10 billion units worth RM1.15 billion from 6.83 billion units worth RM966.72 million in the preceding week. ACE Market volume shrank to 1.68 billion units valued at RM577.05 million versus 1.97 billion units valued at RM729.96 million previously. — Bernama
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
FBM KLCI Futures To Trade Within Narrow Range Next Week On Cautious Sentiment
WORLD By Harizah Hanim Mohamed KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to trade within a narrow range next week, tracking the underlying cash market. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd equity research vice-president Thong Pak Leng said the resistance level is located at 1,540 and the support at 1,520, with the FBM KLCI is likely to remain range-bound between 1,510 and 1,540 in the coming week. 'Over the past few weeks, the benchmark index has repeatedly tested and hovered around the 1,530 without making a clear breakout. The ongoing sideways movement since June, coupled with thinning volume, signals cautious investor sentiment,' he told Bernama. On a weekly basis, the spot month July 2025 and August 2025 contracts gained four points each to 1,531.5 and 1,528.5, respectively. September 2025 added 5.5 points to 1,509.5, while December 2025 inched up 3.5 points to 1,511.5. Turnover for the week improved to 28,103 lots from 25,123 lots in the previous week, while open interest jumped to 48,755 contracts from 38,963 contracts previously. The FBM KLCI ended the week better, advancing 7.90 points to 1,533.76 from 1,525.86 in the previous week. -- BERNAMA
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Malaysia's new ambassador to US pledges stronger bilateral relations
Photo courtesy of Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's new Ambassador to the United States, Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening the Malaysia-US bilateral relationship during a credentials ceremony with President Donald J. Trump at the White House. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the Embassy of Malaysia in Washington, D.C. stated that Muhammad Shahrul Ikram presented his Letter of Credence to Trump during the Presentation of Credentials Ceremony at the White House on July 24. The ceremony officially marked him as the 18th Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to the United States. "During the ceremony, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram had the opportunity to briefly exchange warm pleasantries with Trump, conveying his commitment to further strengthen the Malaysia-United States bilateral relationship. "He also thanked the President for Secretary of State Marco Rubio's participation in the recent 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings, held in Kuala Lumpur from July 8 to 11, which further reaffirmed the US's commitment to the region as well as the deepening of the Malaysia-US Comprehensive Partnership,' the embassy stated. Over the past six decades since 1957, Malaysia-US's ties have grown into a multifaceted partnership encompassing political, economic, defence and security, educational, and people-to-people cooperation. Muhammad Shahrul Ikram is a former secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry and a veteran diplomat with over 35 years of service. Born in Pahang, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Ecology from Universiti Malaya and completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 2009. He began his career at the Foreign Ministry in 1988 as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer. During his career in the public service, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram also served as Malaysia's Ambassador to Qatar and Austria, as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. His previous diplomatic assignments included stints at Malaysia's diplomatic missions in Vienna, Washington, D.C., and Beijing. He also held the positions of Deputy Secretary General of Bilateral Affairs, Director General of Asean-Malaysia National Secretariat (during Malaysia's Chairmanship of Asean in 2015) and Undersecretary of Multilateral Political Division. - Bernama
