The Malaysian media fraternity has endorsed the appointment of Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, a retired Federal Court judge, to lead the Malaysian Media Council (MMM). The unanimous decision by MMM board members on May 26 has drawn widespread approval from industry bodies and prominent journalism figures who view her judicial credentials as instrumental in strengthening the council's standing.
Datuk Yong Soo Heong, president of the Malaysian Press Institute, highlighted that Nallini's legal expertise would ground the council's work in principles of justice and transparency. Her independent background, insulated from political and commercial pressures, positions her to make decisions firmly anchored in public interest and fairness, he noted. This approach is expected to reinforce institutional confidence in the council's handling of media-related matters across the democratic landscape.
National Journalism Laureate Datuk A. Kadir Jasin traced the concept back to the 1980s and recalled championing it during the MMM's formation in 2018 under then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He emphasised that the council's credibility hinges not merely on independence but on being perceived as such—a criterion the appointment of a seasoned judicial figure satisfies comprehensively. With stakeholder cooperation, he projected the council would advance media professionalism and safeguard editorial freedoms.
Mohamad Fauzi Ishak, president of the Malaysian Media Clubs Association, framed the leadership transition as timely given the industry's mounting pressures. These range from rampant misinformation to artificial intelligence's disruptive potential. He advocated for revisiting the MMM Act to grant the council stronger statutory authority, enabling it to address grievances and enforce accountability where legal gaps currently hamper intervention.
Fauzi underscored that while the MMM handles numerous complaints, institutional constraints prevent action in many cases. Nallini's appointment, he argued, provides an opportunity to fortify the council's capacity to defend practitioners' rights whilst maintaining rigorous professional standards. The council must retain its autonomy from sectional interests to earn enduring confidence among both industry stakeholders and the public, he stressed.
