Business, markets and economy news from Malaysia.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has established a new framework requiring all complaints against recognised media practitioners to be submitted to the Malaysian Media Council for initial review, preventing automatic investigations or prosecutions.
Malaysia's parliament advanced competition law amendments and tabled rice sector reforms during its third sitting week, while debating press freedom and human rights issues amid scrutiny of media environment.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has linked Malaysia's slip in the World Press Freedom Index to enforcement action against media organisations over sensitive content involving religion, race, and the royal institution.
Cambodia's Supreme Court has upheld 14-year prison sentences for two journalists who were convicted of treason for sharing a photo taken in a military-restricted zone following border clashes with Thailand.
The Malaysian Press Institute has gathered RM1.037 million in contributions and sponsorships for Malaysia Press Night 2026, scheduled for next month with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed to attend.
Hong Kong authorities have arrested two individuals, reportedly including pro-democracy bookseller Leticia Wong, under the city's national security law on charges of selling seditious materials and accepting foreign funding.
Cambodia's Supreme Court is set to decide whether two journalists imprisoned for posting photographs from a militarised border zone should have their 14-year treason sentences overturned, amid concerns about the judiciary's independence.
The Malaysian Media Council hosted a networking session with over 50 media practitioners from Malaysia's northern states during HAWANA 2026 celebrations in Butterworth, signalling its commitment to strengthening ties beyond the Klang Valley.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has praised Malaysia's media practitioners for maintaining ethical standards while navigating digital transformation, emphasising that press freedom must be balanced with responsible reporting to strengthen public trust and institutional stability.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph2ubasg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph2ubasp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22194%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ENallini%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, a retired Federal Court judge, has assumed the chairmanship of the Malaysian Media Council, pledging to leverage her judicial background to defend the body's operational autonomy and strengthen its role in press oversight.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph4goyog)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph4goyop)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22170%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EJudicial%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Newly appointed Malaysian Media Council chairman Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan has defended her judicial background, arguing that her decades on the Bench have equipped her to safeguard the council's independence and earn public trust.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph188k3g)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph188k3p)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22226%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3EHAWANA%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officiated the HAWANA 2026 Summit in Penang, where media leaders stressed the annual gathering's importance in uniting journalists and addressing evolving industry challenges including artificial intelligence and media integrity.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence that the appointment of former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as chairman of the Malaysian Media Council will enhance the institution's credibility and restore public trust in media regulation.
Malaysia's Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil is pushing for closer media partnerships with Timor-Leste, proposing journalist training and institutional collaboration as both nations address their standing in international press freedom indices.
The National Journalists' Day 2026 summit concludes in Penang tomorrow with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officiating. The event brings together approximately 1,000 media professionals to celebrate journalism's role in delivering credible information.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph6xbxg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph6xbxp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22320%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ETeo%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has thrown her support behind former Federal Court judge Nallini for the chairmanship of the Malaysia Media Council, highlighting the judge's track record on press freedom cases.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has thrown her support behind former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan to lead the Malaysian Media Council, pointing to her judicial history on safeguarding press freedom.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has backed the appointment of former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as chairperson of the newly established Malaysian Media Council, highlighting her strong record on constitutional and press freedom issues.
The Malaysian Media Council has appointed retired Federal Court judge Nallini Pathmanathan as its new chairman, as the media sector confronts significant operational and regulatory pressures.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has congratulated Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan on her appointment as chairman of the Malaysian Media Council, the media industry's self-regulatory body established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025.
Media industry leaders have welcomed the appointment of retired Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as chairperson of the Malaysian Media Council, citing her judicial expertise and independence as vital to strengthening press freedom and institutional credibility.