The Malaysian Press Institute has set up two committees to obtain feedback and conduct research into the proposed formation of the Press Council, Information Ministry Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Zainuddin Maidin told Parliament today.

According to Zainuddin, the first committee headed by Associate Professor Safar Hashim of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is assigned to obtain feedback from editors concerning the idea of establishing the council.

Whereas, the second committee led by Associate Professor Murad Merican from Universiti Teknologi Mara is currently researching whether the present code of journalistic ethics needs to be reviewed or revamped, he added.

"Both committees will report to the main committee headed by a veteran Utusan Melayu journalist, Sirajuddin Rafia, who is expected to receive a report at the end of this month," said Zainuddin.

The Information ministry is not involved in the setting up of the Press Council and has opted to leave the job to the editors via the Malaysian Press Institute, he said in response to Senator Khoo Lay Hin's question on the Council's status.

"The Council will function like the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), which among other things, will receive complaints about misreporting, a problem which is now handled by the courts," explained Zainuddin.

No interference

"The Council will not be disturbed by those who are outside the journalistic field, and this includes not only the opposition but the government as well," he added.

Zainuddin said that in the past, editors were cold towards the idea of setting up the Council but in the wake of several recent mega-suits, it has dawned upon them how important such a Council is.

"The National Press Club and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have played an active role in labouring for the set-up of the Press Council," he added.

The awareness to set-up the council came about in an editors' conference which also gave rise to the National Communication Policy, Zainuddin clarified.

"Under this policy, it was suggested that the Malaysian Press Council is aimed at ensuring the freedom to communicate and obedience to journalistic ethics in order to preserve national and public interest," he said.