Author - balqis

KUALA LUMPUR: The relaunched Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists will not curtail media freedom, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today. He rubbished claims that the code was an attempt by the government to control and censor the media and freedom of speech. He said the claims were unfair to the Information Department (JaPen) and Malaysia Press Institute (MPI) as the code had existed since 1989. "If you were to compare the relaunched document and the 1989 document, they are almost the same. "The preamble is the same, there are still eight key points. "It has nothing to do with curbing media freedom. Some of the comments made have been unfair to JaPen and MPI. "At the launch, the MPI chief executive officer said this document was the original one from 1989, so we cannot discount or we cannot nullify this fact." He said this after launching the Maxis 5G-Adcanced Trial Showcas here. Fahmi said it was necessary to update the code, especially with the introduction of blogs and online media, which didn't exist when the code was introduced. Yesterday, Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek said the ne code of ethics was a backdoor way of reviving the Anti-Fake News law, couched in terms of "journalistic ethics", where the credibility of any news and its sources would be determined by the government. The code was relaunched earlier this week with Fahmi describing it as a guideline for media agencies to carry out their duties. He said this would promote professionalism and integrity of the media as a source of news and information trusted by the people.

KUALA LUMPUR: Menteri Komunikasi, Fahmi Fadzil sekali lagi menegaskan Kod Etika Wartawan Malaysia versi baharu yang dilancarkan kelmarin, tidak akan mengekang kebebasan media di negara ini. Menegaskan pihaknya kadangkala melihat komen dibuat berkaitan kod etika itu sebagai tidak adil kepada Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia (JaPen) dan Institut Akhbar Malaysia (MPI) kerana ia sudah ada sejak 1989, beliau berkata, dokumen baharu dan sebelumnya adalah sama. "Jika anda bandingkan dokumen itu dengan dokumen 1989, ia adalah sama. Mukadimahnya sama, masih ada lapan perkara utama. Ia tidak ada kaitan dengan mengekang kebebasan media. Beberapa komen yang dibuat tidak adil kepada JaPen dan MPI. "Pada pelancaran, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MPI (Datuk Mustapa Omar) berkata, dokumen ini adalah dokumen yang berasal dari 1989," katanya pada sidang media selepas melancarkan Maxis 5G Advanced Trial Showcase di Suria KLCC, di sini hari ini. Semalam, Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) mendakwa Kod Etika Wartawan Malaysia versi baharu yang dilancarkan kerajaan adalah percubaan untuk mengawal media dengan Pengarahnya, Zaid Malek dilaporkan mendakwa, kuasa JaPen untuk membatalkan akreditasi kad media sebagai ancaman terhadap akhbar. Kod Etika Wartawan Malaysia mengandungi lapan etika utama, iaitu wartawan bertanggungjawab menjadi suara masyarakat majmuk, hendaklah telus dan berintegriti serta berlaku adil dalam menyampaikan informasi. Etika lain adalah pemberitaan tidak dipengaruhi kepentingan peribadi, kesahihan dan ketetapan maklumat dan wartawan perlu menghormati privasi dan kerahsiaan sumber. Selain itu, wartawan juga perlu memahami undang-undang, akta dan polisi yang berkaitan dengan ruang lingkup tugas mereka dan wartawan perlu memberi keutamaan untuk meningkatkan kemahiran kewartawanan secara berterusan. Kod Etika Wartawan Malaysia adalah dokumen rasmi sebagai punca kuasa dan rujukan bagi tujuan pengeluaran serta pembatalan kad perakuan media dikeluarkan JaPen, iaitu dokumen pengenalan diri bagi pengamal media daripada agensi dan syarikat media berdaftar. Kad perakuan media digunakan oleh wartawan dan organisasi media untuk membuat pelaporan acara rasmi kerajaan dan setakat 16 Februari lalu, ada seramai 9,750 pengamal media berdaftar dengan kad perakuan media JaPen, melibatkan 152 agensi media. Sementara itu, Fahmi berkata, Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) serta Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan (KPKT) akan diminta berbincang meneliti cara terbaik supaya liputan internet dalam bangunan dijadikan sebahagian prosedur operasi standard (SOP) perancangan bandar. "Dari segi liputan internet dalam bangunan, kebiasaannya dibuat selepas bangunan itu siap. Kita lihat sekarang internet satu utiliti asas, jadi saya lihat ada keperluan untuk adakan perbincangan. "Insya-Allah selepas ini saya akan minta, sebagai contoh, MCMC untuk berhubung dengan KPKT supaya kita dapat meneliti apakah cara terbaik untuk kita pastikan perancangan bandar dapat memasukkan isu liputan internet dalam bangunan ini sebagai sebahagian daripada SOP," katanya.

PUTRAJAYA: Kabinet meluluskan penubuhan Majlis Media Malaysia dan penggubalan Rang Undang-undang (RUU) khusus mengenainya yang dijangka dibawa ke mesyuarat kedua penggal ketiga Parlimen ke-15, Jun nanti. Jurucakap Kerajaan, Fahmi Fadzil berkata draf RUU itu sebenarnya sudah diluluskan Kabinet yang terdahulu dan sudah tersenarai untuk dibentangkan pada 2019, namun tergendala akibat perubahan kerajaan ketika itu. Dengan terbentuknya Kerajaan Madani, perkara itu diteliti semula dan ada beberapa penyelarasan dibuat bagi memantapkan lagi RUU itu. "Jabatan Peguam Negara sedang menyiapkan draf RUU ini untuk dibawa semula kepada Jemaah Menteri bagi mendapatkan kelulusan sebelum ia dibawa ke Parlimen untuk digubal," katanya dalam sidang media di Kementerian Komunikasi, hari ini. Semalam, kerajaan melancarkan semula Kod Etika Wartawan Malaysia dan memberi jaminan langkah itu tidak mengekang kebebasan media dan pengamal media di negara ini. Fahmi yang juga Menteri Komunikasi berkata, kod etika wartawan ini telah wujud pada 1989, namun ia kini ditambah baik untuk mendepani cabaran teknologi masa kini. Menerusi kod etika yang ditambah baik ini, prinsip kebebasan bersuara akan kekal dipertahankan kerana ia termaktub dalam Perlembagaan. Lapan Kod Etika Wartawan Malaysia yang digariskan itu membabitkan wartawan bertanggungjawab menjadi suara masyarakat majmuk serta ejen pemudah cara dailog, perlu telus dan berintegriti, berusaha secara konsisten untuk adil dalam menyampaikan informasi dan pemberitaan tidak boleh dipengaruhi oleh kepentingan peribadi. Turut tersenarai, kesahihan dan ketepatan maklumat perlu disemak, menghormati privasi dan kerahsian sumber, memahami undang- undang berkaitan ruang lingkup tugasan dan memberi keutamaan untuk meningkatkan kemahiran secara berterusan. Bukan kod etika baharu Menjawab gesaan beberapa pihak supaya Majlis Media Malaysia ditubuhkan dahulu sebelum kod etika wartawan dilaksanakan, Fahmi berkata, kod etika itu hanya dilancarkan semula selepas ditambah baik bukannya satu kod baharu diperkenalkan. Katanya, kod etika wartawan 2024 tetap mengikut kod etika induk pada 1989 dan ia menggugurkan perkataan 'mengekang komunisme' kerana komunisme ini tidak lagi wujud di Malaysia. "Kod etika wartawan dalam konteks Jabatan Penerangan (JaPen) adalah bagi pengeluaran kad perakuan media. "Ini berasaskan kod etika wartawan induk 1989 dan jika pada masa depan dengan pembentukan Majlis Media Malaysia ia mahu digunakan atau tidak, itu bergantung kepada majlis berkenaan," katanya  

KUALA LUMPUR: The newly-launched Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists has been accused as a clear attempt by the government to control and censor the media and freedom of speech, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said. Its director Zaid Malek claimed that the so-called improved code of ethics is simply a backdoor way of reviving the Anti-Fake News law, couched in terms of "journalistic ethics", where the credibility of any news and its sources will be determined by the government. He added that it is "surprising and inappropriate" for the government to launch a supposedly improved code of ethics for journalism before the Media Council has been formally instituted. The matter, said Zaid, was akin to putting the cart before the horse. "It thus raises an alarm when (Communications Minister) Fahmi (Fadzil) also confirmed that the Information Department is authorised to rely on the code of ethics to cancel media accreditation cards. "This cannot be perceived as anything else but as a standing and continuous threat towards the press. It is obvious then that the government is using the code of ethics to further strengthen its control over the media.

PUTRAJAYA: The Communications Ministry is now in the final phase of preparing the draft of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill, says Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He said the process to establish the media council took some time as it involved consultation with the Attorney General’s Chambers and needed to be considered and decided upon by the Cabinet. “It will be concluded in the not too distant future,” he said at the launch of the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists here yesterday. Fahmi was reported to have stated previously that the government was considering several media-related Bills, including one for the establishment of the MMC, to ensure freedom of the press in the country. He reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of media practitioners in the country, urging the Information Department (JaPen) to intensify initiatives that would benefit the group. He said a meeting had also been held with Human Resources Minister Steven Sim to ensure the welfare of stringers was protected, mainly through EPF and Socso, Bernama reported. “It is understood that out of 9,750 media accreditation cardholders, more than 6,000 are stringers which is a significant number. “The welfare aspects of EPF and Socso are under consideration. I need some time to discuss the matter with the secretary-general of my ministry. There is some positive news for stringers. Just give us a little time,” he said. The minister called on JaPen to check on extending the validity period of media accreditation cards for international media practitioners which now requires annual renewal, against the two-year validity period for local media personnel. “I see the need for this, considering that many practitioners involved in international media are Malaysians, who are based locally,” he said.

PUTRAJAYA: Eager to combat the spread of fake news and improve the quality of journalism in the country, the Communications Ministry has launched a new Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists. This marks the first time the journalism ethics manual has been reviewed in 35 years since it was developed in 1989 by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI). Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the newly-launched journalism ethics manual was an improvement over the previous version to keep up with the modern era of social media. “This review is significant to not only keep up with the current state of media in the country but also as a source of reference when handing out Media Certification Cards (KPM) to journalists. “This will hopefully lead to more responsible and effective journalism that will help to nourish prosperity and harmony among the people,” he said in his speech at the manual’s launch yesterday. Fahmi said he hoped the new guidelines would not only assist media agencies to carry out their duties but also promote professionalism and integrity among them to become a source of trusted news and information for the people. “In this era of fast Internet, fake news and slander spread overwhelmingly fast. “But through this new code, we hope to expand the media’s role in fighting fake news to provide the people with the tools they need to be able to confidently verify posts and news they see on social media,” he added. The manual outlines eight fundamental ethics that underscore the responsibilities and standards expected of journalists in the country. These include being the voice of the plural society; being transparent and with integrity; fairness in conveying information; ensuring information validity and accuracy; being free from any conflict of personal interests; and protecting the privacy and confidentiality of sources. Journalists are also required to have an understanding of the laws and policies relevant to their profession and to strive to continuously improve their journalistic skills. The Information Department (JaPen), in a statement issued in conjunction with the launch of the code of ethics manual, said the guide would be the primary reference in its management of the KPM for media practitioners. “In line with the evolution of the media industry, the code of ethics has been updated and will serve as a guide for all JaPen KPM holders in carrying out their duties as they strive to build an informed society,” it read. The new manual was developed by the ministry through JaPen following four discussion sessions with key stakeholders including the MPI and National Union of Journalists.