Malaysian Media Law to Address Advertising Revenue for Media Organizations – Fahmi Fadzil

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Media Council Law, expected to be formulated next year, will address issues related to advertising revenue for media organizations, among other matters.

Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated that it is crucial to detail and emphasize this issue as the current practice involves payments for advertisements going solely to social media platform providers and not to media organizations.

“I believe there needs to be a balance, so that there is some return to media companies… (this matter) is still under discussion, and I believe all parties can be brought to the negotiating table so that a conducive atmosphere can be implemented and realized. We can apply the approach used in resolving issues related to the implementation of 5G earlier, where I was able to invite all telecommunications companies to discuss, and ultimately, everyone agreed. This management approach can be used in efforts to resolve the advertising expenditure issue,” he said.

He made these remarks to reporters after delivering a keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of ‘Transcending Disinformation: Towards Responsible Media Consumption,’ organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) here today.

Fahmi mentioned that he would meet with the management of the Community Communication Department (J-KOM) today, among other things, to discuss the appointment of a new Director-General for the agency as soon as possible.

He stated that during the meeting, he would gather further information on whether the agency had already chosen a new Director-General when it was under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), considering that J-KOM had just been transferred to the Ministry of Communication with effect from yesterday.

“Previously, the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) mentioned that a replacement had been identified, but in terms of its administration, whether it has taken effect or not, it will be confirmed in today’s meeting. There is no deadline, but this appointment (J-KOM Director-General) will be made as soon as possible because it is important, give me a little time,” he said.

Asked whether the appointment of the new J-KOM Director-General would be from among civil servants or an external appointment, Fahmi said he was not aware of it, and the matter would be discussed during today’s meeting.

On November 15th, Datuk Dr. Mohammad Agus Yusoff confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter as the Director-General of J-KOM to the Prime Minister, only nine months after being appointed to lead the agency on February 2nd.

In his opening speech, Fahmi mentioned that advertising expenditure is one of the serious and biggest challenges faced by local media, with an estimated loss of around RM2 billion from the total RM4.5 billion annual advertising spending on the three social media giants, Meta, Google, and TikTok. He hopes that social media platforms will engage in numerous sessions with media organizations to help them effectively and efficiently use social media platforms.

— BERNAMA