MMC Rolls Out Phase Two Of Complaints Mechanism, Requires Official Form

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has implemented Phase Two of its complaints mechanism from today until Sept 30, with all complaints required to be submitted via its official form.

MMC said under Phase Two, it will no longer accept complaints submitted via email, with the change aimed at ensuring that all complaints are recorded, assessed and processed in a more systematic, transparent and accountable manner.

“MMC will also retain the interim approach introduced in Phase One. If a complainant has not submitted a complaint directly to the relevant media organisation, the Secretariat will act as a facilitator by forwarding the complaint to the party concerned for appropriate action.

“This approach is in line with the principle that resolution should begin at the level of the media organisation itself before further intervention,” it said in a statement today.

The public is also encouraged to review the MMC Code of Ethics and guidelines before submitting complaints.

During Phase One from Jan 22 to March 31, MMC received five complaints regarding issues such as reporting accuracy, unauthorised use of images, the implications of content for social harmony, and ethical considerations in reporting.

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

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

On Jan 23, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil described the MMC complaints mechanism as an important step towards media self-regulation in line with efforts to ensure more responsible reporting and adherence to high ethical standards.

He said the introduction of the mechanism provides a professional and institutional channel to address issues related to journalistic practices and media ethics in the country.

-- BERNAMA