Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has implemented Phase Two of its complaints mechanism from today until September 30, with all complaints required to be submitted via its official form.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MMC stated that under Phase Two, it will no longer accept complaints submitted via email. This change is intended to ensure that all complaints are recorded, assessed, and processed systematically, transparently, and accountably. The MMC will also maintain the interim approach from Phase One, where the Secretariat acts as a facilitator by forwarding complaints to the relevant media organisations if they haven't been directly approached by the complainant. This process aligns with the principle that resolution should start at the media organisation level before further intervention.

The public is encouraged to review the MMC Code of Ethics and guidelines before submitting complaints. During Phase One, which ran from January 22 to March 31, the MMC received five complaints concerning issues like reporting accuracy, unauthorised use of images, content implications for social harmony, and ethical considerations in reporting. All complaints were resolved within the period, achieving a 100 percent resolution rate at the preliminary screening stage. This reflects the effectiveness of the filtering function and the clarity of the eligibility criteria.

MMC emphasised that the mechanism is not punitive but aims to enhance accountability, improve journalistic practices, and build public trust in the media through a fair, professional, and self-regulatory process. On January 23, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil described the MMC complaints mechanism as a crucial step towards media self-regulation. This initiative aligns with efforts to ensure more responsible reporting and adherence to high ethical standards, providing a professional and institutional channel to address issues related to journalistic practices and media ethics in the country.