Johor bahru: The first annual general meeting (AGM) of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) on November 7 is anticipated to be a significant milestone, positioning the council as a key proponent of media professionalism and freedom within Malaysia.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching expressed her hopes that the MMC will take on a more impactful role by establishing a dispute resolution mechanism and creating guidelines and ethics to tackle contemporary media-related issues. Teo emphasized that the council could provide a platform for resolving disputes, stating, “If there is a dispute, and one party feels that the report is unfair or if there are any other issues, they can bring it up with the Media Council so that there is a mechanism to handle that dispute.”

Teo further noted that post-AGM, the leadership of the MMC will be elected by its members instead of being appointed by the government. This change aims to grant the council greater autonomy, allowing it to actively contribute to enhancing the media landscape in Malaysia.

The inaugural AGM will also address the election of Council Board members as per Section 8(4) of the Malaysian Media Council Act. Additionally, the meeting will outline procedures for future AGMs, membership fees, standard operating policies, and the budget for the Council for the Financial Year 2026.