The Malaysian media fraternity has expressed strong support for Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan's appointment as chairperson of the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), unanimously approved by board members on May 26. Her judicial credentials are seen as instrumental in elevating the self-regulatory body's credibility and independence.

Datuk Yong Soo Heong, president of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), highlighted how Nallini's legal acumen would anchor the council's approach to governance. By drawing on her time on the bench, he suggested the MMM would now operate with greater emphasis on fairness, openness and accountability. Such grounding in principle-based decision-making, he noted, should reinvigorate public trust in the media as a pillar of democratic life in Malaysia.

National Journalism Laureate Datuk A. Kadir Jasin traced the concept back decades, noting that calls for an impartial, credible figure to lead media self-regulation date to 1980s discussions about the National Union of Newspaper Editors (ONE). When he helped launch the MMM framework in 2018 alongside then Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo, independence and perceived legitimacy were central. Nallini's appointment, he said, fully satisfies those founding principles.

Mohamad Fauzi Ishak, president of the Malaysian Media Clubs Association (GKMM), argued the new leadership arrives at a critical juncture. The media sector confronts mounting pressures from misinformation, artificial intelligence growth and evolving threats to editorial standards. He flagged that the MMM Act may need strengthening to equip the council with clearer legal powers to resolve member grievances and enforce compliance.

Fauzi underscored that some industry complaints have gone unresolved because statutory authority gaps prevent action. Nallini's integrity and experience, combined with potential legislative reform, could enable the MMM to defend press freedoms while simultaneously maintaining rigorous professional accountability. He stressed the institution must stay insulated from external pressures and political influence to sustain confidence within the profession and among the public.