No plans for special law to curb horrific visuals by media – Salleh
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no plans to draw up a specific law to curb the dissemination by the media and public, of gruesome visuals involving cases like fatal accidents and other tragedies.
Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said this was because the existing laws were seen as sufficient and could be used in checking such actions.
He said the existing laws could ensure that the broadcast media and social media in Malaysia would curb or limit news story visuals which could hurt the sensitivities of the families involved.
Salleh said the broadcast media and social media were subject to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), while the private television stations were also subject to additional conditions through the Individual Content Applications Service Provider licence and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Code.
Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) is, meanwhile, subject to its Code of Ethics.
“Enforcement action can be taken by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for violation of the licence conditions and failure to comply with Act 588.
“This is concurrent with administrative actions such as issuing an advisory or a reminder to the television station operators, whether RTM or the private ones, and the social media for contravening the provisions,” he said during the special chamber session at Parliament building, here, yesterday.