JAKARTA: An independent media council, even if financed by the state budget, is crucial to avoid media intervention in the country.
IDN Times editor-in-chief Uni Lubis said a media council should be the highest body free from interference that manages and protects the press.
"A media landscape that is free and professional as the Fourth Estate, is essential to the democratic landscape.
"An independent media council, although its operation is financed by the state budget, is required to ensure that there will be no intervention from anyone, including the government.
"Even though the funds come from the government, it is not from the president's or prime minister's money but from the people and taxpayers.
"An independent, professional press is essential for any democracy," she said.
Indonesian Press Council member Tri Agung Kristanto said the press represented the voices of the community and were responsible to the public.
Tri, who is also the council's Press Education and Professional Development Commission chair, said in Indonesia, the press council was responsible for several main areas.
These include educational training and competency development; providing guidance related to media companies; protecting journalists and media companies.
"The press council is an institution tasked with maintaining ethics, the independence of journalists and media, and realising independence through the development of journalism competencies and the independence of press companies."
He said this to the Ikatan Setiakawan Wartawan Malaysia-Indonesia (Iswami) delegation of 15 Malaysian reporters when met at the Indonesian Press Council building here, today.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) secretary-general Sayid Iskandarsyah said a press council was governed by laws, and there needed to be political will for it to be established.
"The press council is formed because of the law. Is the Malaysian government ready to protect press freedom?
"Malaysian media associations must also unite and form one main association which will then empower the council."
Malaysia is yet to establish its own media council, with the government assuring that the Malaysian Media Council bill would be tabled in the next Parliament sitting, scheduled to start on Feb 26.
In November last year, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching told the Dewan Rakyat that they were scrutinising and finalising the contents of the draft bill.
https://www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2023/11/978515/communications-min...
She also said the ministry, now known as Communications Ministry, had held periodic discussions with the council's pro-tem committee, made up of media practitioners.