Ensuring efforts to enhance the credibility of media practitioners, Fahmi says.

Raising journalism standards must first come from within the newsroom.

Body must be independent of political interference.

These include the Parliamentary Services and Media Council bills.

Will MMC end erroneous articles, partisan coverage, the arrest of journalists?

The idea for the council was first mooted in 1973.

PARLIAMENT | Teo believes they will be professional, do what's best for the press.

Inclusion of govt reps undermines efforts to make council self-regulatory for industry - MP.

Minister hopes industry's status can be elevated.

Amendments to existing laws and new legislation raise concerns.

Once established, industry will be able to self-regulate.

Body should be given mandate to protect journalists legally, physically, economically and socially.

Where are the efforts to improve freedom of speech, MP asks.

Wan Saiful raises the issue of 'unresolved' media council bill.

Those interested in joining can contact pro-tem committee or me, Teo says.

Ministry in final stage of finalising content, says Teo.

Council pro-tem committee member Goh describes discussion as ‘fruitful’.

UPDATED 5.03PM | Group says instances of media card 'abuse' calls for independent media council.

Ministry had no objection to media council proposal, Saifuddin says.

Provide adequate resources, revise archaic laws to strengthen it.

Govt must treat media personnel as their peers.

Media council can have its own guideline once established, he says.

Both entities operate independently, deputy communications minister says.

There may be overlap with the planned media council, among other issues.

PARLIAMENT | This is to allow for practitioners to self-regulate news, says deputy minister.

It will allow the media to be self-regulated.

Ministry's priority remains the formation of an independent council.

We need reforms, not ‘band-aid’ solutions, academic says. 

UPDATED 12.45PM | 'Focus is on Media Council, bringing the bill to AG and Parliament.'

UPDATED 6.55PM | Media Council bill to be tabled by next March.