KUALA LUMPUR — The government has reinforced its commitment to safeguarding public mental health and improving responsible media reporting through a high-level roundtable discussion on safe reporting of suicidal behaviour, bringing together key government agencies, regulators and media stakeholders.
The Round Table Discussion on Safe Media Reporting Related to Suicidal Behaviour was co-chaired by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and organised with the participation of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Communications (KK) and the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF).
The inaugural session convened editors-in-chief, media organisations, journalism bodies and industry representatives to strengthen collaborative efforts in developing content guidelines and improving reporting standards across traditional and digital platforms.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the initiative reflects the government’s continued focus on balancing responsible journalism with public safety concerns.
“This collaboration demonstrates our shared responsibility to ensure that media reporting on sensitive issues such as suicidal behaviour is carried out in a safe, ethical and responsible manner, while still respecting media freedom as a cornerstone of our democracy,” he said.
He added that the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception and reducing stigma around mental health, and therefore must be guided by appropriate standards to encourage help-seeking behaviour among those in need.
The session also saw the signing of the Malaysian Media Pledge by media and journalism organisations, including the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ), signalling a collective commitment to strengthen ethical reporting practices.
The initiative is part of the MySAVE (Malaysia Suicide Awareness Voice of Hope) programme, which promotes a public health-first approach to mental health awareness and prevention.
The government reiterated its commitment to supporting responsible media reporting that upholds empathy, safety and social responsibility in addressing mental health issues. – June 8, 2026