‘Use official complaints channel’: Fahmi urges public to report ethical media concerns to Malaysian Media Council

Shah Alam, October 3 — The public can report ethical concerns in local media reporting to the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), according to Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. Fahmi emphasized the need to use proper channels to avoid misunderstandings and protect the media industry's integrity. "If it concerns reporting by the media itself, I would suggest that members of the public, who have concerns about a news headline or anything they wish to raise with the media, use the official complaints channel through the MMM.

There is a link that can be accessed," Fahmi stated. This advice came after Fahmi officiated the Madani Kita Programme with the Kota Anggerik @ Shah Alam community. The previous day, the Putrajaya Media Club (KMP) reported to the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) about a social media post that allegedly altered images of media personnel into animal images.

The act involved photographs of journalists covering former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali's grave in Putrajaya on October 1. Fahmi explained that the MCMC identified several social media accounts disseminating offensive content by misusing AI applications to edit images of Tun Dr Mahathir following his wife's passing.

"The authorities will take action. I personally noticed that the account has disappeared. We are not yet sure whether it was a fake account, but the MCMC, together with the police, is tracking down the parties responsible for producing extremely offensive content in this matter," Fahmi said. He also reminded the media to respect the family's wishes during their grieving process.

"Let us pray that Tun Dr Mahathir and his family remain strong in facing this great ordeal," Fahmi concluded.