Kuala Lampur, May 2 -- As Malaysia joins the United Nations in marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the nation finds itself at a pivotal juncture for media freedom, ethical journalism, and long-awaited reform. This year's theme, "Reporting in the Brave New World - The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media," resonates deeply in a country where the fight for independent journalism has spanned decades - now facing disruption from the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

In February 2025, the Malaysian Parliament passed the long-anticipated Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill, a landmark move 50 years in the making. First proposed in 1974 by Malaysia's second prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, t...