SUHAKAM developing human rights guide for media

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), together with a group of experienced media professionals, is currently developing a code of ethics to guide media practitioners on human rights issues, BERNAMA news agency reports.

SUHAKAM secretary Rodziah Abdul said a document related to the code of ethics was presented to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan.

"We hope the relevant ministries will adopt or build on this code of ethics with the objective of promoting media reporting that provides the public with full, fair and accurate information, and follows a certain standard of conduct in the process," she said after attending the Regional Forum on Media and Human Rights in ASEAN.

"Adherence to a certain code of ethics is paramount in ensuring professionalism in media reporting."

Rodziah said that media coverage on matters pertaining to human rights was still rather limited in Malaysia. She also noted that the content of statements issued by SUHAKAM were sometimes not adequately reflected by media outlets.

One of the factors for the lack of coverage on human rights issues was the limited knowledge and understanding of human rights among media practitioners in this country, Rodziah said.

Date: 16 May 2016

Source: BERNAMA