How safe are our children from being exposed to inappropriate materials in our multimedia channels?

As parents and users of the multimedia technology, it is strongly felt that it is our responsibility to shield our children from violent or obscene material available through our multimedia channels. Protecting them from inappropriate content in the media may seem like an uphill task. However, the feat is as simple as lodging a complaint with the Communications and Multimedia Forum of Malaysia (CMCF).

The CMCF is an independent body set up in February 2001 under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, to regulate multimedia content according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Code which was introduced in September 2004.

The CMCF is committed to maintaining and promoting industry self-regulation through the supervision of content dissemination and related issues consistent with the aims and purposes underlined by the Content Code.

The Content Code is a set of guidelines and procedures for good practice and standards of content dissemination for public consumption. This code is enforced by CMCF with the aims of fulfilling the responsibility in ensuring that the standards of content disseminated by the multimedia players to the public are within the law.

The Content Code reinforces the core objectives of multimedia providers in the country and to establish a standard of behaviour which is agreed upon with all involved in the industry. Furthermore the code is deemed to create a morally structured modern society in which resource based services will help prepare the base for continuous improvement to the quality of work and life.  

“Through the implementation of the Content Code, obscene, offending language and other disturbing elements found in the multimedia channels can be under control, thus providing a conducive environment for all end users,” explains Yang Berbahagia Dato' Borhanuddin Osman, the newly appointed Chairman of The Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia.

Additional to the Content Code, there are sub codes designed to give more emphasis to certain subsections. CMCF would like to announce the development of the Music Content Sub-code, a regulatory code for the music industry. The purpose of this sub code is to address the subject of unsuitable content in relation to broadcast of songs on radio and television. In particular, no song is to be broadcast which is contrary to public interest or order, affects national harmony or which is offensive to good taste and /or decency. 

The Music Content Sub Code will take into account the opinions of the public and will be open for public consultation. The Sub Code is open to public scrutiny for a period of thirty days beginning the 14th of April 2008. The draft could be downloaded from the CMCF website – www.cmcf.org.my

There will be a burst of insertion of advertisements in major dailies starting next week, urging the public to give their opinions on the sub code.

Other roles of the CMCF are to create reviews and amend the content code as needed, to coordinate the activities of their members, and to educate, create awareness on responsible content creation and usage. The CMCF also accepts and investigates complaints pertaining to multimedia content.

The Complaints Bureau within The CMCF was set up to make sure that the content which appears on the electronic network medium in Malaysia is not indecent, obscene, false, menacing or offensive. Its role is to investigate complaints from the public and the industry and to monitor content.

The Complaints Bureau comprises an appointed Chairman and six members of the forum, each one representing; advertisers, audio text service providers, broadcasters, civic groups, content creators/distributors and internet access service providers.

“Today, with the fast expansion of the multimedia world, we cannot keep track of what our youths are exposed to. Parents feel that they cannot do anything about it, but in true fact they can come to us and if it is within our jurisdiction we will take Action on the offenders,” states Borhanuddin.

A review exercise of the Content Code is currently being undertaken by the members of the CMCF. The objective of this review would be to balance consumer protection and industry interest, encompassing every aspect of the current provisions as well as updating the guidelines in line with the development of the industry over the past couple of years.

According to Borhanuddin, CMCF is has with a strong support team of staff headed by the Executive Director, Mohd Mustaffa Fazil. The Complaints Bureau is managed by Datuk Mohammed Baizan, a retired judge.

 The Complaints Bureau will have the authority to issue a written reprimand in serious violations and may impose a fine not exceeding RM, 50,000 and/or ask the offending party to remove or cease the offending act.

 The Bureau has the right to impose other penalties permitted by the virtue of the Code. It is important to note that the Complaints Bureau can only deal with content that breaches the code and not take up other points that concern a company’s product or services.

 The public can write in their complaints through email to secretariat@cmcf.org.my., visit our website at www.cmcf.org.my  It would be useful if the type of content, programme details of where and when it appeared and what you think is wrong with the content. CMCF is located at Unit 1206, Pusat Dagangan Phileo Damansara 1, 9, Jalan 16/11 Off Jalan Damansara 46350 PJ.