PETALING JAYA, June 15 – The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has announced the appointment of former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as its new chairperson, marking a significant milestone in the development of Malaysia’s independent media self-regulatory framework.

The appointment was unanimously endorsed by members of the council’s board during a meeting held on May 26.

In a statement, the council described the appointment as an important step in strengthening its role as an independent, credible and public-interest-driven self-regulatory body for the media industry.

Nallini retired from Malaysia’s Federal Court in February 2026 after an 18-year judicial career. During her tenure, she served at all three levels of the superior courts and authored approximately 325 reported judgments, including several landmark decisions in constitutional and commercial law.

She made history as the first woman of South Asian descent to be appointed to Malaysia’s superior judiciary. Before joining the bench, she practised law for more than two decades at Skrine, one of the country’s leading law firms. She currently serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

Nallini also holds several international appointments, including Vice-Chair of the Judges’ Forum of the International Bar Association, member of the Steering Group of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts, and judge of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre.

The council said her longstanding commitment to judicial independence, the rule of law and access to justice makes her well-positioned to lead the organisation as it begins implementing its mandate to promote a free, responsible and self-regulated media environment in Malaysia.

Established under the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025, the council serves as the country’s media self-regulatory body. Its formation is regarded as a key component of ongoing media reforms aimed at creating a more independent, transparent and accountable framework for addressing media ethics, public complaints and journalistic standards.

As an independent institution, the council is tasked with strengthening journalistic standards, administering a public complaints mechanism, promoting ethical media practices and safeguarding media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.

Under Nallini’s leadership, the council said it will focus on institutional development, implementing a code of conduct, establishing a trusted and fair complaints mechanism, and enhancing public understanding of the role of the media in a democratic society.

The council also intends to prioritise legal reform initiatives affecting media organisations, journalists and the public’s right to access accurate information. This includes advocating for a clearer and more balanced legal environment that upholds freedom of expression, access to information, journalistic ethics and the public interest.

The appointment comes at a critical time for the media industry, which continues to face major challenges including economic pressures, technological disruption, artificial intelligence, misinformation and disinformation, threats against journalists, and the need to rebuild public trust in news organisations.

The Malaysian Media Council expressed confidence that Nallini’s leadership will help guide the organisation into a more mature, independent and credible phase, built on three core principles: standards, ethics and freedom.

The council also thanked media organisations, journalists’ associations, independent media practitioners, civil society groups, academics and the government for their support in establishing Malaysia’s media self-regulatory framework.