KUALA LUMPUR — The implementation of the RM30 million Media Innovation Fund will not compromise press freedom in reporting current issues but will instead strengthen the resilience of the local media industry in navigating the challenges of the digital ecosystem, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said.
She said the fund was introduced to help local media organisations undertake digital transformation following shifts in the advertising landscape, where revenue has increasingly moved towards global platforms such as Google and Meta, adversely affecting traditional media income.
Teo stressed that the purpose of the fund was not to ensure media organisations praise or side with the government, but to ensure local media remain relevant and capable of competing in a healthy manner in the digital era.
“This fund does not come with conditions that undermine journalistic principles, such as requiring the media to praise the government. I follow local media closely and they are very critical of whatever the government does.
“They do not simply praise the government but are also critical,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Teo was responding to a supplementary question from Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN–Alor Setar), who raised concerns that eligible applicants for the Media Innovation Fund might be bound by conditions that could affect media freedom.
On the transparency of the fund’s distribution, she said a special committee had been established to evaluate and select eligible applications.
The committee is chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Communications Ministry and includes representatives from the Department of Information Malaysia (JAPEN), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and other relevant agencies.
Teo said today marked the first day of pitching sessions by applicants for the fund, with 10 organisations scheduled to present, while another 29 will be called in subsequent sessions.
“The committee will assess and determine whether the applications are approved and the appropriate amount of funding to be awarded,” she said.
She added that the Media Innovation Fund offers financing of up to RM300,000 per application and is open to legally registered local media organisations that meet the stipulated eligibility criteria, including registration with JAPEN.
Teo said the fund would help create a healthier and more sustainable media ecosystem, while ensuring media organisations are able to adapt to the latest technologies without compromising the quality of their reporting. – February 5, 2026