The Malaysian Media Council announced the appointment of Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, a retired Federal Court judge, as chairperson of the self-regulatory body established under the MMM Act 2025. The decision was unanimously endorsed by MMM board members at a meeting on May 26, and has garnered strong support across the media industry.
Media industry leaders have expressed confidence that Nallini's extensive judicial experience will reinforce the council's commitment to fair governance and public interest. Datuk Yong Soo Heong, president of the Malaysian Press Institute, highlighted that her legal credentials would provide grounding in justice, transparency and accountability. He noted that an independent former judge would bring perspective untainted by political or commercial pressures, fostering public trust in media institutions as guardians of democratic discourse.
National Journalism Laureate Datuk A. Kadir Jasin connected the appointment to long-standing industry aspirations, tracing the concept back to proposals during the formation of the National Union of Newspaper Editors in the 1980s. He recalled championing independent leadership when he helped establish the MMM plenary session in 2018 alongside then Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo. According to A. Kadir, Nallini's appointment fulfils the essential requirement of being both genuinely independent and perceived as such by stakeholders.
Mohamad Fauzi Ishak, president of the Malaysian Media Clubs Association, suggested that the transition presents an opportunity to strengthen the council's statutory authority. He pointed out that the MMM has faced constraints in addressing member complaints due to insufficient legal provisions, and called for a review of the MMM Act to expand its powers. He emphasised that clearer authority would enable the body to more effectively defend member interests and resolve industry grievances.
The appointment arrives at a critical juncture for Malaysian media, confronting mounting challenges from misinformation, artificial intelligence advancement, and shifting industry dynamics. Media leaders believe Nallini's combination of experience, integrity and credibility positions her to foster an accountable yet professionally vibrant sector. They stressed that maintaining institutional independence from vested interests remains paramount to building continued confidence among industry practitioners and the broader public.
