Kuala Lumpur, 19 September 2025 — The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has raised serious concerns over RM100,000 compounds imposed on Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd and Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), warning that such hefty fines could create a chilling effect on media freedom.
The fines were issued following investigations that found media content breaches: in Sin Chew’s case, an incomplete illustration of the Jalur Gemilang national flag on its digital platform, and in Sinar Harian’s case, false information posted on Instagram concerning the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). Compounds of this size, the MMC says, risk fostering a climate of fear and self-censorship among newsrooms, undermining journalism’s role in holding power to account.
While acknowledging the importance of accuracy and respecting national symbols, the Council described the penalties as “excessive and disproportionate” to the alleged offenses. In particular, it said that inadvertent mistakes—though regrettable—should lead to corrective or educational responses rather than punitive ones that may endanger the viability of news operations.
MMC further argued that such enforcement may discourage newsrooms from innovating or using new technologies, especially in digital platforms and social media. The fear of heavy penalties could lead to overly cautious editorial decisions, suppressing news angles, limiting reporting, or delaying publication. This is especially concerning as Malaysia’s media landscape undergoes rapid technological change.
In its statement, the Media Council urged a more balanced regulatory approach, calling for clearer guidelines, fairer enforcement, and collaborative frameworks between MCMC, media organisations, government bodies, and media watchdogs. It emphasised that protecting the public’s right to information should go hand in hand with upholding responsibility and accuracy.
