The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has appointed former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan as its Chairperson, marking a key step in strengthening the newly established self-regulatory body for Malaysia’s media industry.
Her appointment was unanimously approved by the Council’s Board on May 26, 2026.
Nallini, who retired from the Federal Court in February 2026 after 18 years on the Bench, brings extensive judicial experience spanning all three tiers of Malaysia’s superior courts, including authorship of around 325 reported judgments in constitutional and commercial law.
MMC said her appointment reinforces its mandate as an independent, public-interest-based regulator tasked with upholding journalistic standards, administering public complaints, promoting ethical reporting and defending media freedom.
A former practitioner at Messrs Skrine for over two decades before joining the judiciary, she is also active in international legal bodies, including the International Bar Association’s Judges Forum and the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts, and serves as a judge at the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre.
Under her leadership, MMC will focus on strengthening institutional governance, improving ethical standards, and enhancing public trust in the media, alongside ongoing discussions on legal reforms affecting press freedom and access to information.
The appointment comes at a time when the media industry is facing mounting challenges, including misinformation, technological disruption, artificial intelligence and growing economic pressures on news organisations.
