The launch of the Code of Ethics for Journalists in Malaysia on Feb 20 started with reciting the Rukun Negara. I thought it was rather apt.
The Rukun Negara is a declaration of national philosophy instituted on Merdeka Day of 1970. Its primary goal is to create harmony and unity in the aftermath of the horrible events of May 1969.
After the code's launch by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, people of all stripes questioned the need for such a code or which institution had sparked it off and whether the organisers had put the cart before the horse.
So much angst was expressed over something that was done in good faith.
Press freedom groups raised concerns whether the code could be used to extend government control over the media.
And some even worried that adherence to the code might become a criterion for media accreditation, thus, potentially restricting press freedom.
Some contended that the soon-to-be formed Malaysian Media Council (MMM) should come first before talking about an updated code.
But the establishment of MMM still requires a lot work despite the sterling efforts of Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching in getting all stakeholders to hammer out a robust document before it's tabled in Parliament.
There were even some who argued that MMM should take the lead in spelling out the profession's code of ethics.
While it's salutary to say that MMM should be established first, the rate at which events are unfolding in this country doesn't afford us the luxury of time.
Let's not forget the tinderbox situation that we've been in for the past three weeks or so over the KK Mart controversy.
Journalists have to be mindful not to play into the hands of mischief-makers or political opportunists. That's where the code of ethics comes in handy.
I had taken a long hard look at the code issued by the Information Department.
Primarily it was an adaptation of an earlier one by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) in 1989 to reflect the current times.
The Information Department had been thorough by engaging a host of experts, including media practitioners and academicians, before launchiing the code.
It also reviewed 15 research studies and similar codes in India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
The code incorporates eight key principles, emphasising transparency, integrity, fairness, and responsible reporting.
The authorities believe that this code will enhance journalistic standards, guide media professionals in their work and maintain media credibility.
In the midst of this furore, I'm drawn to a royal address by Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah of Perak at a recent Securities Commission's book launch, where he said "regulation is not there to be a blocker, but rather an enabler, smoothing the path to progress".
In citing the foreword of Capital Market In Malaysia: Past, Present And Future that free markets require a foundation of morality and the check of government oversight in order to prosper, Sultan Nazrin stressed that this also chimed well with the long tradition of hisbah in Islam in the collective duty to uphold the rule of law and is best expressed in the Quranic maxim of "enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong".
It's also useful to acknowledge that ethics play a crucial role in shaping the integrity and credibility of journalists and their work. This is especially so in our multiracial and multireligious society, where journalists should minimise harm while reporting.
It all boils down to responsible journalism. If there's a fly in the ointment in the code of ethics, perhaps it could be in the explanatory notes on adherence to laws of the country which may be rather inelegant to some.
Striving for accuracy ensures the credibility of journalists in the eyes of the public. Overall, the code is a useful reminder to media practitioners.
As one veteran business journalist-turned-media owner said: "Even going to the washroom has its own set of rules!"
* The writer is a former Bernama chief executive officer and editor-in-chief