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SULIT
COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA CONTENT FORUM OF MALAYSIA
(2008 Annual Report and 2009 Plan of Activities)
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to table the following:
(i) activity report of the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of
Malaysia (Content Forum) for the period of January 2008 to December 2008;
and
(ii) plan of activities and budget for the year 2009.
2. BACKGROUND
2.1 The Content Forum was established in February 2001 as a society under the aegis of
the MCMC.
2.2 Over the past years, Content Forum had embarked on its various consumer
awareness programmes that have either been held in conjunction with the Malaysian
Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Ministry of Energy, Water and
Communications (KTAK), State Governments or at the behest of the Content Forum’s
own members and affiliated partners.
2.3 The Executive Office and Complaints Bureau of the Content Forum are fully
established and operational. The administration of the day to day operations is
executed by the Executive Office whereas the Complaints Bureau is obliged in
addressing complaints received from members of public or industry members
regarding networked electronic content.
2.4 The Complaints Bureau Chairman is also mandated by the Council to address any
issues that require specific content advisory matters under the Content Forum’s
Content Advisory Centre and assisted by the Executive Director.
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2.5 The Content Forum continues to gain direction under the Content Forum’s Council
and the Executive Committee (EXCO) of which executive decisions are carried out by
the Executive Office under the stewardship of the Executive Director.
3. OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR 2008
Meetings and Events Involvement
3.1 Internal Events
(a) The Content Forum Council Members (Council) had met for eight (8) times as
per the scheduled monthly Council Meetings;
(b) The Content Forum had its 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 11 March
2008 at the Conference Room of the Content Forum’s Executive Office in
Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
3.2 External Events
3.2.1 Meeting on Local Content Definition
(i) The Content Forum was involved in a meeting to discuss the draft guidelines
for Local Content Definition of which the draft guidelines were also circulated
to its members in February 2008 for input.
(ii) The meeting was held at KTAK’s office in Putrajaya on 29 February 2008. The
Content Forum had been present in determining issues pertaining to this
matter since previous years.
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3.2.2 Research Collaboration on New Media Content between MCMC and Institutions of
Higher Learning (IHL)
(i) The Content Forum was involved in the research collaboration project
abovementioned that was intended to promote requirements of the National
Policy Objective under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA
’98).
(ii) The Content Forum was represented by its Chairman and accompanied by the
Executive Director who attended the launch of the research collaboration at
the MCMC on 14 April 2008.
(iii) The Content Forum was also present at focus group meetings in which its
Chairman had chaired the focus group meeting to identify focused areas of
research on 12 May 2008.
(iv) Another meeting was held on 12 August 2008. The meeting discussed on the
establishment of the National Research Committee on New Media Content or
the steering committee of the research collaboration initiatives. The Content
Forum was included in the steering committee and was represented by the
Chairman and the Executive Director.
(v) The Content Forum, being members of the Steering Committee of the
Research Collaboration programme between the MCMC and IHL’s, was invited
to attend the third meeting of the programme held on 5 December 2008 at
the MCMC, Cyberjaya. The Executive Director was in attendance as a panel
member of Evaluators for research proposals submitted by the respective
IHL’s.
3.2.3 MYNIC Berhad
(i) The Executive Office received an official visit by MYNIC Berhad, on 28 March
2008.
(ii) The MYNIC team and their partners from HaryatiDeepak (advocates &
solicitors) met with the Executive Director to provide an update on the
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activities undertaken by MYNIC on the launch of ‘.my 2LD (2 Level Domain)’
domain name on 25 March 2008.
(iii) The purpose of the meeting was also to seek Content Forum’s advice on
handling of complaints received from public through the Sensitive Names
Project including the domain names and that of the website content itself.
(iv) The Executive Director gave a briefing on how complaints were handled at the
Content Forum and that MYNIC may forward any complaint on offensive
website content to the Content Forum’s Complaints Bureau.
(v) MYNIC invited the Content Forum to partake in the consultative process for
the MYNIC Sensitive Names Project. The Executive Director was in
attendance. The consultation with stakeholders was held at the PJ Hilton on
17 April 2008.
(vi) At a meeting held on 17 July 2008, MYNIC with the backing of MCMC
expressed the intention for the Content Forum to head a proposed Reference
panel for the said project. MYNIC has since become a member of the Content
Forum.
3.2.4 Sub Code on the Presentation of Malaysian Arts and Cultural Content
i) At the behest of the MCMC, the Content Forum received a request to look into
the formation of the abovementioned Sub-Code. Upon a meeting with the
MCMC, the Executive Office of the Content Forum had written to the MCMC in
providing the authorities with a comparative list of requirements of the
Internal Code Benchmark of the proposed Sub-Code, against that of the
existing provisions of the Content Code.
(ii) It was presented to the MCMC in expounding that the proposed Sub-Code
may not be required as the salient points have already been incorporated into
the Content Code.
3.2.5 Study Visit to the United Kingdom
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(i) A study visit to the United Kingdom was undertaken by the Content Forum
and accompanied by representative(s) from the MCMC and ASTRO.
(ii) The main purpose for the trip was to establish an inter-jurisdictional
information sharing relationship and enhance jurisdictional study on other
regulators’ efforts to manage and to understand and develop the industry in
their respective jurisdictions.
(iii) This includes the process and organisational functions of the regulators in the
United Kingdom with emphasis on complaint handling mechanisms.
(iii) The members of the Content Forum who travelled to the United Kingdom for
the trip were the following:
• Y. Bhg. Dato’ Borhanuddin Osman (Chairman);
• Tuan Syed Agil Shekh Alsagoff (Hon. Secretary);
• Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek (Hon. Treasurer);
• Cik Laili Hanim Mahmood (Council Member representing
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Amrin Awaluddin
(Vice-Chairman);
• Y. Bhg. Datuk Mohamed Bazain Idris (Complaints Bureau Chairman);
• Encik Mohd Mustaffa Fazil Mohd Abdan (Executive Director);
(iv) The members of the MCMC and ASTRO who joined the trip were the
following:
• Cik Elvira Shamsuddin Deputy Director, Content
Regulation Department, MCMC;
and
• Ms. Sharmitha Visvalingam Senior Manager, Regulatory
Affairs, ASTRO.
(v) Meetings were held with several regulatory authorities which were
PhonepayPlus, Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), Office of
Communications (Ofcom) and BBC Trust, with a visit to the premier satellite
television broadcaster in the United Kingdom, BSkyB Plc.
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(vi) A brief account of the trip and the organisations visited is as per Appendix I.
3.2.6 Asia Pacific Regulatory Roundtable (APRR) Annual Meeting
(i) The MCMC hosted the 13th Asia Pacific Regulatory Roundtable Annual Meeting
which was held in Kuala Lumpur at the Impiana Hotel from 28 - 30 October
2008. The meeting was attended by regulators of the broadcasting industry
from countries in the Asia and Pacific region to discuss issues relating to
content and broadcast with a view of sharing ideas and experiences.
(ii) The Content Forum was invited to present a talk on the topic “Promoting Good Governance”. The Content Forum Chairman, Y. Bhg. Dato’ Borhanuddin
Osman made a presentation on the given topic on 30 October 2008. Also
present at the talk were the Executive Director and the Complaints Bureau
Chairman. A welcome cocktail held on 28 October 2008 in conjunction with
the meeting was attended by the Chairman, Executive Director and
Complaints Bureau Chairman.
3.2.7 International Audiotext Regulators’ Network (IARN) – 26th Meeting
(i) The IARN Group Meeting was held in Sydney, Australia from 25 November
2008 to 26 November 2008. The Executive Director had represented the
Content Forum at the invitation of IARN officials who were eager to hear and
know the Content Forum’s regulatory role in Malaysia. A presentation on the
Content Forum was made by the Executive Director which was well received
and found to be interesting by the organisers and delegates.
(ii) The MCMC being the main regulatory authority for content in Malaysia was
also invited to the meeting whereby the Senior Director, Content, Consumer &
Network Security Division, Mr. Amarjit Singh had represented the Commission.
The meeting had provided a good opportunity for the Content Forum to learn
about the global regulatory standards. Participating country reports on
audiotext regulation by participating countries and other findings of the IARN
were obtained during the meeting.
3.2.8 Mesyuarat Jawatan Pertugas Khas Bagi Penyediaan Garis Panduan Mengenai
Pembangunan Kandungan Kerajaan
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(i) The Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit
(MAMPU) had invited the Content Forum to attend a Working Group meeting
on 14 November 2008 at the Prime Minister’s Department Complex in
Putrajaya, to discuss a proposed guideline for development of electronic
content in support of the Government’s initiatives to achieve 50 percent high
speed broadband penetration by the year 2010.
(ii) The attendees comprised officers of MAMPU and KTAK. The first draft of the
proposed guidelines was briefly discussed. The Chairman of the meeting,
Tuan Haji Muhammad Rosli Bin Abd Razak of MAMPU informed that pursuant
to the meeting, a revised draft of the guidelines would be circulated for
further comments by members of the Working Group.
(iii) The Content Forum had reviewed and commented on the guideline. Several
inputs and feedbacks were given by the Content Forum on matters such as
definitions and also legal directions of the guideline to MAMPU.
3.2.9 PERSKOM Permohonan Ulasan SKMM and the Content Forum
An e-mail from the Ketua Penolong Setiausaha, Bahagian Komunikasi dan
Perkhidmatan Pos, Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi (KTAK) was received by
the Executive Office for the Content Forum to provide feedback on an application for
registration of Persatuan Sarjana Komunikasi dan Media Malaysia (PERSKOM). The e-
mail was also addressed to the MCMC for similar comment. The Executive Director
had discussed the matter with the MCMC earlier. The Content Forum had provided its
feedback on the registration and had stressed that PERSKOM is not a body that will
have the capacity to articulate policies on the Malaysian Communications and
Multimedia industry. Additionally, the Content Forum welcomes the registration of the
society under the Societies Act 1966.
4. MUSIC CONTENT SUB-CODE
4.1 The Content Forum had been tasked with coming up with a Music Content Sub-Code
to govern the broadcast of music and songs. Upon clearance by the MCMC for
subsequent amendments made to the draft Sub-Code, the public consultation process
was carried out. A media conference was held on 10 April 2008 to not only publicise
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the Content Forum but to announce the public consultation exercise for the Music
Content Sub Code. Other roles of the Content Forum were also mentioned.
4.2 Pursuant to the feedback on the draft Music Content Sub-Code from the Ministry of
Information (MOI) vide letter dated 12 May 2008, the Music Content Sub-Code
Committee had met to deliberate on the feedback and discuss the next plan of
action.
4.3 On the comment of having a national identity for the broadcast industry, the
Executive Office had written to MOI in informing them that various paragraphs of the
Content Code had already addressed the issues and there was no further need to
replicate the same in the Sub-Code.
4.4 On the MOI’s further proposal to have a compulsory quota for local content to be
broadcast, the Music Content Sub-Code Committee had found that the issue at hand
does not relate to the Music Content Sub-Code. The matter leans towards
broadcasting done by radio stations. It was decided that Commercial Radio Malaysia
(CRM) will be the most appropriate organisation to deliberate on this matter. As such,
the matter had been officially referred to CRM for its further deliberation.
4.5 The Executive Director of the Content Forum and assisted by Mr. Ramani
Ramalingam (Council Member representing the Recording Industry Association of
Malaysia (RIM)) as a key member of the said Sub-Code Committee were invited to
discuss the matter at CRM’s Council meeting held on 22 August 2008. In the said
meeting, it was agreed that the local content broadcast quota does not concern the
Music Content Sub-Code.
4.6 In furtherance to the Commercial Radio Malaysia’s (CRM) Council meeting held on 22
August 2008, a letter from the CRM was received by the Content Forum stating that
the local content broadcast does not concern the Music Content Sub Code. Based on
the letter from CRM, the Content Forum would therefore proceed to register the Sub-
Code by applying to the MCMC under Section 95 of the Communications and
Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA’98). The MOI would be notified on this matter.
4.7 Pursuant to the letter dated 23 October 2008 sent to the MOI, informing the MOI of
the feedback received from CRM, no other correspondences have been received.
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5. THE CONTENT CODE REVIEW EXERCISE
5.1 An ongoing review exercise of the Content Code in an attempt to encapsulate recent
developments of the various components of the communications and multimedia
industry was undertaken in late 2007 and the review exercise is still in progress.
Several meetings were facilitated by the Executive Office for the Working Group
Categories:
(i) The Executive Office has provided the Advertisers and Broadcasting
Categories with a comprehensively compiled list of proposed amendments and
action items, which were discussed during a joint meeting, held on 3
September 2008 meeting of the Advertisers and Broadcasters Categories.
Another meeting was held on 24 September 2008. The meeting was to
discuss the contents of Part 4, Specific Broadcasting and Part 7, Specific
Limited Content Guidelines. The Broadcasters Category had comprised
members and participants from Media Prima, Astro and RTM amongst others.
(ii) The Internet Access Service Providers (IASP) Category held its third meeting
on 25 September 2008 in which the proposed amendments for Part 5, Specific
Online Guidelines were finalised. A final meeting by the IASP Category was
held on 16 December 2008 to confirm all proposed amendments before
presentation to Content Forum Members and subsequently to the Council.
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5.2 Category Working Group meetings (for the period as of 31 December 2008) had been
held as follows:
(i) Broadcasters Category Meeting : 22 January 2008, 31 July
2008, 18 August 2008, 3
September 2008 and 16
December 2008.
(ii) Advertisers Category Meeting : 9 April 2008, 10 July 2008
28 July 2008, 31 July 2008,
3 September 2008 and 16
December 2008.
(iii) Internet Access Service Providers (IASP) : 27 February 2008, 14
August 2008 and 25
September 2008.
(iv) Civic Groups Meeting : 18 March 2008
(v) Content Creators / Distributors Meeting : 3 June 2008
6. COMPLAINTS BUREAU & CONTENT ADVISORY CENTRE
6.1 Continuous guidance and support to the Complaints Bureau
The Council further lends continuous support to the Complaints Bureau in providing
industry guidance and distinguishes parameters of scope and power of the
Complaints Bureau.
The Executive Office provides support on administrative matters and compliance
management. In order to support the Complaints Bureau to deliver its decision
effectively, a new set of process and procedure were introduced by the Executive
Office to supplement research support and identification of issues.
The year also saw an increase in the volume of cases submitted to the Content
Forum. Each case was to be solved and deliberated by the Content Forum to be in
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compliance within the stipulated time frame of two (2) months upon the date of
receiving.
The number of complaints and advisory matters combined received by the Content
Forum’s Complaints Bureau in 2008 totalled 44 as compared to 31 in the previous
year (as shown in Figure 5). This represents a 42% increase over the 2007 cases as
a result of continuous efforts of the Content Forum to create awareness among the
public and industry through various activities.
In terms of case closures, a total of 38 cases of the total 44 cases were resolved in
2008. This represents an achievement of 86% of the total number of cases resolved
for the year.
Pertaining to advisory matters, numerous organisations and individuals had sought
the Content Forum’s Content Advisory Centre’s guidance and advice on matters with
relation to content self-regulation. The Content Forum has steadily earned the
confidence of the Government, industry and public in handling cases relating to
content.
The Complaints Bureau has also consolidated its position as the leading self-
regulatory arbitration body for the members of the communications and multimedia
industry as well as the public in Malaysia. The Complaints Bureau Chairman remains
independent from the Council in meting out any decisions although matters of policy
are normally referred to the Council for direction.
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6.2 A summary of complaints and advisory matters received beginning January 2008 to
31 December 2008 is as follows:
Complaint
Received
Advisory Case
Received
Mediation /
Hearing
Decision
Pending
Case Closed
29 15 0 6 38
Table 1: Summary of cases under the Complaints Bureau
Figure 1: Summary of Cases for the Year 2008
6.3 A summary of complaints categorised by the type of complainants is as per Table 2
below. Category
Number of complaints received
Members of the Public 30
Members of the Industry 8
Others/MCMC/KTAK 6 Table 2: Complaints received by type of complainants
Summary of Cases 2008
Cases Resolved86%
Cases Pending14%
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Breakdown of cases received in 2008
Public68%
Others14%
Industry18%
Figure 2: Breakdown of Complaints Received in 2008 by Category
6.4 A summary of complaints received according to category type is as per Table 3
below.
Category
Number of complaints received
Advertising content 8
Mobile content/services 8
Broadcasting content (TV & Radio) 4
Internet content 9
Table 3: Complaints received by category type
Figure 3: Breakdown of Complaints by Media Content Category in 2008
Breakdown of Complaints 2008
A d v e r t i s i n g
2 8 %
M o b i l e C o n t e n t
2 8 %
B r o a d c a s t i n g
1 4 %
I n t e r n e t
3 0 %
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6.5 A summary of content advisory matters received according to category is as per
Table 4 below.
Category
Number of advisory cases received
Advertising content 5
Mobile content 1
Broadcasting content (TV & Radio) 1
Internet content 3
Services 1
Others 1
Academic 3
Table 4: Content Advisory Cases
Breakdown of Content Advisory Matters 2008
Advertising32%
Internet20%
Others7%
Academics20%
Services7%
M obi le Con ten t7%
Broadcasting7%
Figure 4: Breakdown of Advisory Matters by Category in 2008
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6.6 A comparative summary of cases received for the year 2007 and 2008 is as per
Table 5 below:
Table 5: Summary of cases for the year 2007 and 2008
(Note: An additional 10 cases were closed in 2008 being the pending decisions from 2007
but were not included in the net amounts in the table presented above.)
Figure 5: Summary of Complaints Bureau Cases for the year 2007 and 2008
Complaint
Received
Advisory Case
Received
Mediation/
Hearing
Decision
Pending
Case Closed
2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008
12 29 16 15 3 0 10 6 18 38
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
2007 2008
Complaints Bureau Cases 2007/2008
Complaints ReceivedAdvisory MattersTotal Number of CasesCases ResolvedDecision Pending
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6.7 Overall Conclusion
There is a one hundred percentum increase in the amount of complaints received in
2008 although the content advisory cases have continued to remain at an annual
average. There have been no other cases that have necessitated the process of
mediation and/or hearings by the Complaints Bureau.
A number of ten (10) outstanding cases of which decisions were pending in year
2007 were resolved and closed in year 2008. Effectively, the Content Forum’s
Complaints Bureau puts in every effort to complete the deliberation of cases within a
short time period. However, certain cases require intricate treatment with further
information required for proper assessment. The subjectivity of the complaint issues
also plays a part in the turnaround time for case closures.
At year end of 2008, the number of closed cases also increased by one hundred
percentum from the previous year. This reflects the effectiveness and efficiency of
the procedures and processes that have been put in place by the Executive Office in
dealing with complaints received and supporting the output by the Complaints
Bureau.
The percentage of cases resolved by the Complaints Bureau for the year 2008
amounted to 86.4% as opposed to 64.3% in 2007. It is expected that the coming
years will invite further increase in cases wherein the Executive Office further intends
to increase its capacity whereby it is currently operating at 50% capacity up to 2008
year’s end.
7. ORGANISATIONAL ACTIVITIES
7.1 Public Relations Initiatives and Awareness Activities
The Content Forum’s role in regulating content disseminated via the electronic media
maintains its drive to promote, educate and advocate the proper use and methods to
access electronic content.
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Table 6: The table below depicts a snapshot of the types of activity that the
Content Forum was involved in between January until end of
December 2008
No Type of Activity Frequency
1 Roadshows/Exhibitions 10
2 Seminars/Workshops/Conferences 29
3 Content Forum Visits 8
4 Press Release 1
5 Media Interviews 2
6 Other Events 6
Table 6: Summary of Public Relations initiatives 2008
Figure 6: Breakdown of Public Relations Activities
7.2 Roadshows
As the industry’s self regulatory organisation, the Content Forum continues its effort
in indulging into activities that are highlighted to the general population and working
together with the MCMC, KTAK as well as the Content Forum’s own Members and
affiliates. The Executive Director and his team were normally present to illuminate
the mass population on the role of the Content Forum as well as the rights of
Public Relations Initiatives 2008
Sem inars51%
Visits14%
Media Interview
4%
Press2%
Others11%
Road Show s18%
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consumers and industry in terms of their respective involvement in matters of
electronically disseminated content.
7.2.1 TV3’s “Jom Heboh” Carnival
The Content Forum was involved in several “Jom Heboh” carnivals throughout the
year 2008. Below is the list of the Content Forum’s participation in the “Jom Heboh”
legs:
i. 17 – 20 June : Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil
ii. 2 –3 August : Padang MPK2, Kuantan, Pahang
iii. 25 – 26 October : Boulevard Miri, Sarawak
iv. 22 – 23 November : Stadium Batu Kawan, Penang
v. 20 – 21 December : Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil
7.2.2 Majlis Sambutan Hari Telekomunikasi dan Informasi Masyarakat Sedunia Peringkat
Negeri Johor
The Content Forum was present together with the MCMC’s Southern Regional Office
in the abovementioned event which was organised by the MCMC and Perbadanan
Perpustakaan Awam Johor on 29 July 2008, at the Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam
Johor. The event was officiated by the Menteri Besar, Johor, Y.A.B Dato’ Haji Abdul
Ghani bin Othman. Copies of the Content Code were distributed during the event.
7.2.3 Pameran Agensi Kerajaan/NGO Ekspo Sambutan Jubli Emas 50 Tahun Pemerintahan
KDYMM Tuanku Sultan Kedah
The Content Forum jointly participated with the MCMC at the Expo Rakyat held in
conjunction with the Golden Jubilee celebration of the reign of His Royal Highness
Sultan of Kedah, Ke Bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Sultan Sir Almu'tasimu Billahi
Muhibbudin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan
Badlishah.
The Expo was held from 23 July 2008 – 31 July 2008 at the Stadium Sultan Abdul
Halim. The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the MCMC, Encik Mohamed Sharil
Tarmizi and Executive Director of the Content Forum represented the MCMC and the
Content Forum respectively.
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7.2.4 The Experiencing Convergence - My Broadband ‘08 Expo
The Content Forum participated at the abovementioned expo at the KL Convention
Centre from 28 - 30 October 2008 entitled "The Experiencing Convergence - My
Broadband ‘08 Expo". The Content Forum Chairman and Executive Director were
present at the opening ceremony which was officiated by YB Dato’ Shaziman Abu
Mansor, Minister of Energy, Water and Communications. The Chairman of Content
Forum was also present at the Content Forum’s booth to greet members of the public
and participants who visited the booth. The Content Forum’s Corporate Video which
made its debut at the expo was presented throughout the duration of the expo.
7.2.5 Karnival Sains dan Teknologi Peringkat Negeri Kelantan 2008
The Content Forum participated jointly with the MCMC in the Karnival Sains dan
Teknologi organised by the Kelantan State Government in conjunction with the
state’s science and technology development program themed “ICT-Peluang Untuk
Semua”. The event was held from 6 - 9 November 2008 at the Kompleks Islam
Darulnaim, Lundang, Kota Bharu. The Executive Director was present at the event
which was officiated by the Deputy Chief Minister of the State of Kelantan, Y. Bhg.
Dato’ Ahmad Yakub.
7.2.6 GoMobile 2008 and 2nd Asia Pacific Mobile Learning & Edutainment Conference 2008
The Content Forum participated in the GoMobile 2008 expo, Malaysia’s largest Mobile
Lifestyle event showcasing the world of mobility. The expo was held at the Putra
World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur from 20 November 2008 - 23 November 2008.
The Content Forum procured an exhibition booth at the event. The Executive Director
and staff of the Executive Office also attended the conference held over the period. A
Gala Dinner and The Mobile World Stars Awards ceremony was also held for the
Malaysian Mobile Industry for recognition of outstanding achievements, contributions
and innovations. The staff of the Executive Office attended the dinner.
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7.2.7 Sehari Bersama Pelanggan Peringkat Negeri Melaka
KTAK, in concert with the Jasin District, Melaka had organised a one day ‘meet the
customer’ Melaka State level event at the Dewan Alamanda in Jasin, Melaka on 22
November 2008. The Content Forum had jointly participated in the event with the
MCMC.
The event was officiated by the Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, Y.B.
Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor. The Chief Minister of Melaka, Y.A.B Datuk Seri Hj. Ali b.
Mohd Rustam was also present at the event. KTAK’s and other VIPs’ visit to the joint
booth of the Content Forum was recorded and the photographs taken have been
uploaded to the Content Forum website.
7.3 Seminars
Besides attending talks, conferences or seminars, the Content Forum have also
provided training for a number of organisations to educate and expose the Content
Code to the public, industry practitioners’ and students alike.
The Executive Director had made presentations and Content Code Training Sessions
for Star RFM. Sdn. Bhd., Qtelmedia (M) Sd. Bhd., Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
(UTAR), and spoke at the Colloquium on Communications and Multimedia Act
1998:“Perspectives and Way Forward” at the University of Malaya.
In addition, the Executive Director and the Complaints Bureau Chairman were invited
by the Asian Institute for Development Communications (Aidcom) to a colloquium on
“Media Policy in Malaysia” which was held at Corus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur from 20
October 2008 – 21 October 2008. The issues discussed at the colloquium concerned
media freedom, as the media policy in the Asia Pacific region had been under scrutiny
for many years.
One of the main objectives of the colloquium was to identify the needs for democratic
and open media policy in Malaysia. The media policy is then to be recommended to a
proposed Malaysian Media Council. The Executive Director and Complaints Bureau
Chairman attended the opening ceremony which was officiated by the Home Minister,
Y.B. Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Bin Syed Jaafar Albar.
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Additionally the Complaints Bureau Chairman was invited to chair one of the sessions
entitled “Will the Official Policy Respond to the Changes in the Media Environment” in
which the Executive Director was also invited to attend. Prior to the Q&A session, the
Executive Director gave a briefing on the role of the Content Forum which was well
appreciated by the audience comprising journalists and management officials
representing the media, non-governmental organisations, the government sector and
academicians. The Content Forum’s regulatory activities highlighted by the Executive
Director turned out to be the focal point of the discussion.
Apart from the aforementioned involvements, the Content Forum had also
participated in several key events. Provided below are the sequences of talks,
dialogues, seminars and conferences attended by the Executive Office of the Content
Forum throughout 2008:
7.3.1 2008 Half Yearly Wrap Up: Security Threat Landscape
This seminar was organized by the MCMC and was attended by the Operations
Executive of the Content Forum, at the MCMC office in Cyberjaya. The seminar was
focused on providing consumers ‘online well-being’ or security protection against
virus threats.
7.3.2 BroadcastAsia and CommunicAsia 2008
The annual event of BroadcastAsia and CommunicAsia was held from 17 June 2008 to
20 June 2008 which also included international conferences and exhibitions. The
Executive Director and Complaints Bureau Chairman attended the said event.
7.3.3 National Broadband Initiatives Consultation
The Content Forum participated in an industry consultation meeting on National
Broadband Penetration exercise organised by Multimedia Development Corporation
(MDeC) at their office in Cyberjaya on 24 July 2008. The Senior Operations Executive
of the Content Forum attended the meeting.
7.3.4 PIKOM Information Security CXO Panel Discussion
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An invitation to the Executive Office of the Content Forum was extended by PIKOM
Information Security Secretariat for participation in their CXO Panel Discussion and
Berbuka Puasa on 22 September 2008. The Executive Director attended the event
which was held at One World Hotel, Bandar Utama City Centre, Petaling Jaya. The
keynote address was made by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MCMC, Encik
Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi on “MCMC and Government Initiatives on Infosecurity and
Learning from the Estonia Experience”. Other topics discussed were as follows:
• Standards & Compliance
• Case Study on Global Practices
• Experience & Expectation
7.3.5 Asia Pacific Internet Hotline (APIH)
The APIH members held their meeting in Seoul, Korea on 10 November 2008. The
Content Forum only received an invitation at the last minute. The Deputy Director of
Content Regulation Department, MCMC, Elvira Shamsuddin who attended the
meeting, provided a summary of the outcome to the Content Forum’s Executive
Office informing that a section of APIH website would contain country complaints
statistics.
It was mentioned that the format for the submission of the statistics would be
submitted to the Content Forum for the necessary recording and updates. It was also
reported that Content Forum’s complaint page is mainly dedicated for TV/radio
programs–based complaints and did not have provision for Internet related
complaint. The Content Forum has been requested to amend the complaint page to
accommodate Internet based complaints. The APIH meeting will be held annually and
the next meeting in 2009 will be hosted by Taiwan and followed by Japan in 2010.It
has been proposed that the Content Forum host the APIH meeting in 2011.
7.3.6 The Broadband Boom-The Enabler of E- Commerce
The Broadband Forum was jointly organised by the Persatuan Industri Komputer Dan
Multimedia Malaysia (PIKOM) and the MCMC on 21 October 2008 at the MCMC
Auditorium. The objective of the forum was to understand the development that was
taking shape in the industry. The Executive Director attended the forum in which
23
presentations by Cisco Systems, Mobile Money, Redtone and IBM were made on the
topic “The E- Commerce Critical Mass: Are We There Yet”.
7.3.7 MDV’s 3rd Business & Technology Speakers’ Series
The Content Forum was invited to the Malaysia Debt Ventures Berhad’s (MDV) 3rd
Business & Technology Speakers’ Series that was held on 11 November 2008 at the
Westin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur themed “Broadband – Delivering Convergence”. The
Content Forum was represented by the Executive Director and Complaints Bureau
Chairman.
7.3.8 The Mobile IP Check (MSC Malaysia IP Workshop)
The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (‘MyIPO”) in conjunction with MSC
Malaysia IP Workshop had organised ‘The Mobile IP Check’ workshop on 11
November 2008 at the MSC Malaysia Innovation Centre, Cyberjaya. The staff of the
Executive Office attended the workshop in response to the invitation extended to the
Content Forum. The participants of the workshop had mainly comprised the MSC
Malaysia Status Companies.
7.3.9 MSC Malaysia Creative Industry Dialogue
The 2nd Malaysia Creative Industry Dialogue Session 2008 organised by MDeC was
held on 14 November 2008 at the Creative Innovation Centre, Plaza Sentral, Kuala
Lumpur. The dialogue had mainly focussed on creative content development in
Malaysia. Among the issues discussed were allocation of air time for local content and
competitiveness of local content for international market. The staff of Executive
Office had attended the dialogue in response to the invitation extended to the
Content Forum by MDeC.
7.3.10 Forum Kesedaran Dan Perlindungan Pengguna
The Executive Office received an invitation from the MCMC for the Content Forum to
attend a forum on consumer awareness and protection which was held on 9
December 2008 at the MCMC in Cyberjaya. The Executive Director attended the
meeting.
24
7.3.11 Seminar Pengiklanan Radio 24
Seminar Pengiklanan Radio 24 was held at Ballroom 1, The Legend Hotel on 20
December 2008. It was organised by BERNAMA Radio 24. It is the first news and
information radio channel in Malaysia. It was attended by a staff of the Content
Forum’s Executive Office. The seminar was aimed at providing a platform for SME’s to
advertise their product on the radio station, where they were offering lower rates for
the advertisements to be aired than their competitors.
8. PUBLIC RELATIONS
8.1 The Star Newspaper, Education Section, 3 February 2008
The Executive Director appeared in an article in which he was interviewed by ‘The
Star’ newspaper for a short feature article on students and youth websites.
8.2 Farewell Dinner for YB Dato’ Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik
A farewell dinner organised on 10 April 2008 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala
Lumpur by the MCMC and industry players in honouring the services of the former
Minister of KTAK. The event was attended by Content Forum’s Chairman.
25
8.3 Media Conference and Corporate Video/Infomercial
8.3.1 A media conference was held on 10 April 2008 to publicise the Content Forum but
pushed via the announcement of the public consultation exercise for the Music
Content Sub-Code. Other roles of the Content Forum were also mentioned.
8.3.2 The Corporate Video which was produced in September 2008 has been extensively
utilised at all of the PR events and roadshows participated by the Content Forum such
as My Broadband Expo, GoMobile Expo, Karnival Sains dan Teknologi in Kota Bharu,
Kelantan and Malacca Government’s “Program Sehari Bersama Pelanggan”.
8.4 Morning Talk Show Interview
An interview of the Content Forum Chairman and Vice-Chairman on Malaysia Hari Ini
to be broadcasted on TV3 will be arranged in the first quarter of 2009. The interview
is set to be a prelude to the print ads of Content Forum that was tabled at the 69th
Council Meeting to achieve mass media penetration.
8.5 Newspaper Article
A newspaper interview via e-mail on 28 April 2008 was conducted by Tech & U, News
Straits Times on the matter of Internet censorship. The Executive Director
appeared to inform about the Content Code and other principles of self regulation.
8.6 Majlis Berbuka Puasa by Media Prima
The Executive Director, Content Forum and the Complaints Bureau Chairman
attended the event which was held on 4 September 2008 at Sri Pentas, Bandar
Utama.
8.7 Majlis Aidilfitri by the Media Prima Group
The staff of the Executive Office attended the event which was held on 23 October
2008 at Sri Pentas, Bandar Utama.
8.8 Distribution of Content Code to Universities and Colleges
26
The Executive Office of the Content Forum had distributed copies of the Content
Code to institutions of higher learning in the country, in particular to the Law and
Mass Communications Faculties. The objective of this exercise is to promote the
Content Code by encouraging the relevant faculties to utilise the code for their
research and discourses.
The Executive Office of the Content Forum had also distributed copies of Content
Code to the Bar Councils throughout the country. A total of 4151 copies of the
Content Code were distributed since January 2008, in conjunction with various events
and requests made through the Content Forum Executive Office. Below is the
summary of the distribution:
No. Total Copies 1. Institutions of Higher Learning 660 2. Bar Councils 330 3. Public/ Content Forum Members/Organisations 876 4. Exhibitions 1660 5. Road Shows 625
Total: 4151
Table 7: Breakdown of Content Code Distribution
8.9 Website
The Content Forum’s website is being continuously updated. The recent update
features greetings in the homepage banners, in conjunction with several festivities
and roadshows that the Content Forum had recently participated in. A wholesale
updating process was undertaken with additional pages included in for uploading the
decisions of the Complaints Bureau and the Music Content Sub Code for the purposes
of public consultation. Other maintenance work of the Content Forum website is
carried out on a periodical basis. Further enhancements are in the pipeline.
27
8.10 Technology Business Review ASEAN Awards
The Content Forum was invited to the Technology Business Review ASEAN Awards by
its member, Qtelmedia (M) Sdn Bhd on 31 October 2008, organised by the publisher
of The Technology Business Review publication. Qtelmedia was identified as one of
the finalists to receive the abovementioned corporate excellence awards. The award
presentation dinner was held at the Perdana Ballroom of Putrajaya International
Convention Centre. Qtelmedia won the award “For Excellence in the ASEAN
Telecommunication Sector, Mobile Television Applications”.
9. MEETING WITH MCMC
9.1 Meeting with MCMC Chairman
The EXCO of the Content Forum and the Executive Director met with the Chairman of
the MCMC and his team on 4 March 2008. The discussion of the meeting was focused
on the following subject matters:
(i) Discussion on the role of the Content Forum (cross referenced with the 8TV
chest baring issue) in regards to arbitrary action taken by the Government vis-
à-vis MCMC;
(ii) Discussion on collaborative efforts with MCMC for year 2008 (e.g. participation
in the WCIT 2008, etc.);
(iii) Discussion on the Content Forum’s three (3) year business plan vis-à-vis a
budget request; and
(iv) Discussion on the Content Forum’s activities that included a Press Conference
and Corporate Video/Infomercial.
9.2 Another meeting with the MCMC was held on 15 April 2008 attended by Mr. Amarjit
Singh, Puan Eneng Faridah Iskandar and Ms. Jacinta Felix from the MCMC. The
Content Forum was represented by its Executive Director, Cik Laili Hanim Mahmood
(Media Prima), Mr. Ramani Ramalingam (RIM) and Mr. S. Mohan (PPFIM). Matters
that were discussed during the meeting included the following:
28
(i) Guidelines for Advertisement and Nutrition Information Labelling of Fast Food
On the matter of adopting Guidelines on Fast Food Advertisements as a sub-
code, the Content Forum informed MCMC that self regulation should be the
best mechanism to enforce the guidelines. MCMC took note that the industry
wants to avoid further imposition on content requirements and licensing
condition. However, it was generally agreed for the Content Forum to
consider incorporating principal issues and encompassing provisions in the
Content Code review;
(ii) Training on Content Code and Content requirements and certification of
industry members by the Content Forum.
The MCMC revealed that there seems to be unfamiliarity of local producers
and directors on the requirements of the Content Code. To address the matter
at first instance, the MCMC proposed for the Content Forum to conduct
training sessions on the Content Code. The Content Forum may charge for the
courses and provide certification for course participants. The MCMC further
informed that it will not be a compulsory requirement but highly encouraged.
Courses may be developed over time and linked to the Human Resource
Development Fund. The matter is currently being deliberated by the Council.
9.3 The EXCO, the Executive Director and the Complaints Bureau Chairman of the
Content Forum received a visit from the MCMC on 1 August 2008 followed by a
meeting to discuss the Key Deliverables/Key Performance Indicators and budgetary
requirements. Attendees representing the MCMC were:
• Mr Amarjit Singh – Senior Director, Content, Consumer and Network Security
Division;
• Puan Eneng Faridah Iskandar – Director, Content Regulation Department; and
• Ms Jacinta Felix – Assistant Director, Content Regulation Department.
The meeting discussed the 3 year Business Plan of the Content Forum in which it was
revealed that an amount has been approved in principle for financial aid. The Content
Forum was required to submit a report and further define its KPI’s as per the
29
Business Plan. The document on KPI was submitted to MCMC in accordance to the
Business Plan.
9.4 Visit to MCMC cum Meeting with Encik Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, COO of the MCMC
At the behest of the Vice Chairman, Content Forum, Y. Bhg. Dato ‘ Amrin Hj.
Awaluddin, a visit to MCMC by the Content Forum EXCO followed by a meeting with
Encik Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, Chief Operating Officer (COO), MCMC was held on 19
September 2008. The purpose of the visit was for a courtesy call and to update the
COO on Content Forum’s activities and business plan. Due to an unavoidable
circumstance, Content Forum Vice-Chairman, Y. Bhg Dato’ Amrin Hj. Awaluddin was
unable to attend the meeting on that day. He was represented by Media Prima’s
Group General Manager (Regulatory Affairs Division), Cik Laili Hanim Mahmood.
9.5 The Senior Director, Content Consumer and Network Security Division of the MCMC
had a meeting with the Executive Director on 4 December 2008. The agenda
focussed on a bigger role to be undertaken by the Content Forum and its refined Key
Performance Indicators.
10. MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT
10.1 To-date, the Content Forum carries a total number of forty four (44) companies and
organisations under its stable of members with forty two (42) Ordinary Members and
two (2) Associate Members. For the year 2008, the following companies and
organisations had joined the ranks of the Content Forum:
No. Company Membership Type
1 NextNation Network Sdn. Bhd Ordinary
2 Shinjiru Technology Sdn. Bhd. Ordinary
3 Asia Media Monitors Sdn. Bhd. Ordinary
4 MYNIC Bhd Associate
Table 8: New members to the Content Forum for the year 2008
10.2 As per the Constitution of the Content Forum, the Council Members are elected from
the six (6) categories of membership to the Content Forum. As at 31 December 2008,
the composition of the Content Forum’s Council Members is as follows:
30
CONTENT FORUM COUNCIL MEMBERS 2008 Executive Committee Representative Organisation Y. Bhg. Dato' Borhanuddin Osman Chairman
Commercial Radio Malaysia
Y. Bhg. Dato' Amrin Hj Awaluddin Vice Chairman
Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd (TV3)
Tuan Syed Agil Bin Shekh Alsagoff Hon. Secretary
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek Hon. Treasurer
Telekom Malaysia Berhad
Committee Members Mr V.S. Kanesan / Ms Margaret Au Yong
Malaysian Advertisers Association (MAA)
Mr Donovan Foong Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As)
Ms Cheak Yin Fun / Ms Ivy Sam Bee Bee
Procter & Gamble (M) Sdn Bhd
Pn Suridah Jalaluddin/ Cik Laili Hanim Mahmood
Natseven TV Sdn Bhd
Y. Bhg. Dato' Amrin Hj Awaluddin Cik Laili Hanim Mahmood
Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3)
Mr Askandar Kosnin/ Mr. Ellamaran Murugiah
U Television Sdn. Bhd.
Mr S Mohan / Mr Paul Loosley
Persatuan Penerbit-Penerbit Filem Iklan Malaysia (PPFIM)
Mr Sandy Monteiro / Mr Ramani Ramalingam
Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM)
Mr Geoff Millichamp
Association of Post Production & Animation Companies Malaysia (POSTAM)
En Azli Paat / En Tahir Othman
Dapat Vista (M) Sdn Bhd
Prof Madya Dr Kiranjit Kaur / Dr Thilla Chelliah
National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO)
En Azizi Mohamed Jennis / Cik Sharoon Abas
DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
En Mohammad Azizuddin Shahruddin / Ms. Madeline Lee
Qtelmedia (M) Sdn Bhd
En Zaidun Omar / En Mohd Azman Bidin
Jaring Communications Sdn Bhd
Mr. Karan Henrik Ponnudurai / En. Azmi Daud / En. Mohammad Sukeri Abdullah
Celcom Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Ms Lok Yim Pheng Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Perguruan
31
Kebangsaan En Mohd Mustaffa Fazil Mohd Abdan
Executive Director, Content Forum
Table 9: List of Council Members 2008
11. EXECUTIVE OFFICE
11.1 Office
The Content Forum premise is fully operational and utilised.
11.2 Staff
Presently, the full time staffs of the Executive Office of the Content Forum (as at 31
December 2008) are represented by the following:
(i) Mohd Mustaffa Fazil bin Mohd Abdan – Executive Director;
(i) Kalaiselvam a/l Kanapathy – Senior Operations Executive;
(ii) Azrina Hernieyati Binti Che Aziz – Operations Executive (Research and
Monitoring)
(iv) Mohamad Firdaus Bin Mustafar – Operations Executive (Research and
Monitoring)
The Complaints Bureau Chairman, Y. Bhg. Datuk Mohamed Bazain bin Idris is
retained on an honorarium basis. The tenure of the Complaints Bureau Chairman has
been extended to facilitate the handlings of the Complaints Bureau matters.
The Executive Office had recruited Puan Azrina Hernieyati Che Aziz and Encik
Mohamad Firdaus Mustafar in January 2008 and October 2008 respectively to fill the
positions of Operations Executive (Research and Monitoring).
32
The Executive Office engaged Ms. Kirthika Vani d/o Jaya Kumar as an intern for the
duration of 12 May 2008 to 29 September 2008. The intern is currently a student at
Universiti Putra Malaysia obtaining her Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication.
However, the staff force for the Content Forum is running at only 50% capacity.
Further staffing is required in 2009 to perform expanded duties as per the Content
Forum’s three year Business Plan.
The organisation structure of the Content Forum’s Executive Office and Complaints
Bureau is presented as per Appendix II.
12. MOVING FORWARD
12.1 Based on the strategic direction of the Management, the focus for 2009 will
encompass the following: 12.1.1 Public Relations Initiatives and Awareness Activities
The Content Forum aims to continue its drive to promote, educate and advocate the
proper use and methods to access content via electronic means to the public. This is
to be achieved through the dissemination of information and creating awareness on
the existence of the Content Code.
The Public Relations initiatives for 2009 commenced with the Content Forum’s
participation in an international conference, Pacific and Asian Communication
Association (PACA) held in January. Presented below are the details of the
conference:
(i) PACA Conference 2009
The Content Forum participated in an international conference organised by
the Department of Communications, Faculty of Modern Languages and
Communications, University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in collaboration with PACA.
The 7th Biennial Conference of PACA was held from 10 January 2009 to 12
January 2009 at the UPM’s premises.
The conference provided an opportunity to introduce the Content Forum to
foreign delegates from the Pacific and Asian countries as well as Malaysian
33
delegates comprising academicians, communications associations,
government agencies, non-government organisations, media institutions and
the general public.
The Content Forum Chairman made a presentation within a session entitled
“Issues and Challenges in Communications” on 12 January 2009 in
which the Executive Director was in attendance. The Content Forum’s
awareness was also featured through its participation in an exhibition and the
conference programme book. The Content Code was also distributed to the
delegates and to those who visited the exhibition booth.
(ii) Media Plan and Infomercials
In furtherance to the efforts carried out in 2008, the Content Forum seeks to
enhance its awareness campaign through a media plan which includes print
advertising, television and radio commercials. Through these media
campaigns, the Content Forum plans to enhance mass media penetration to
the public. The awareness campaign will include publication of infomercials in
mainstream media.
(iii) Seminars, Training and Forums
• The Content Forum will continue to organise training sessions for the industry
and also the public in 2009. Several training programs will be tailored and
ready to be executed on a quarterly basis. This is in tandem with the Content
Forum’s objective of educating the industry and engaging the public to enhance
their awareness in issues related to content.
• In addition, the Content Forum plans to collaborate with industry players such
as the Malaysian Advertisers Association, the National Alliance of Bloggers and
also content producers in organising seminars, training or forums. The Content
Forum is targeting to organise a minimum of one (1) training workshop for
each quarter of the year 2009.
• The Content Forum plans to have an annual event or conference that will
become a trademark event for the organisation. The annual event will be in the
form of speakers’ series, CEO roundtable forum or a conference. By organising
34
such event, the Content Forum expects to gain more presence in the industry
and the public at large.
• Pursuant to the meeting held with MCMC on 8 January 2009, a joint regulatory
roundtable meeting and workshop/seminar to be entitled “Cultural Awareness
and Community Aspirations” are planned to be held in the first quarter of 2009.
The events are to be jointly organised in collaboration with MCMC and KTAK.
(iv) Roadshows
As in the previous years, the Content Forum will continue to work together
with MCMC, KTAK as well as the Content Forum’s own members and affiliates
to participate in numerous roadshows. This is to fulfil the mandate of being
the industry’s designated self-regulatory organisation. Through the presence
at the roadshows, the Content Forum will illuminate the mass population on
the role of the Content Forum and the rights of the consumers and industry in
regard to the electronically disseminated content.
12.1.2 The Content Code Review Exercise
The Content Code Review Exercise which is still in progress will continue to
encapsulate recent developments of the various components of the communications
and multimedia industry in 2009 before it is finalised through the various Working
Group Category meetings.
35
12.1.3 Complaints Bureau enhancement
The processes and procedures in dealing with cases of complaints and content
advisory matters will be scrutinised and improved to enable the Complaints Bureau to
handle and deliver its decisions effectively.
12.1.4 Website enhancement
The Content Forum’s website ‘www.cmcf.org.my’ which is an integral communications
tool that links the Content Forum to the world, will continuously be updated and
enhanced to fulfil the expectations of the audience.
13. 2009 PLAN OF ACTIVITIES
(i) Among the first activity to be undertaken is to have a rebranding media
campaign to the general population whereby the Content Forum intends to
sell its brand as the premier self regulatory organisation in the country.
Following an intended appearance in a television magazine show, the Content
Forum has reserved print advertisement spots for a blitz that will be featured
in main national newspapers that includes the vernacular versions;
(ii) It is further intended for the print advertisement to be followed up with
television and radio spots for greater emergence of the Content Forum brand.
Whilst the cost of airtime may be subsidised by the relevant members of the
Content Forum, the production cost of a media copy to be aired is still
relatively high;
(iii) The impending launch of the Music Content Sub-Code is another opportunity
for the Content Forum to further sell its brand and it is hoped that the launch
may be a newsworthy event that can be capitalised by the Content Forum;
(iv) The review of the Content Code has progressed favourably in terms of the
industry’s participation in the exercise. As the Content Code is a more
comprehensive document than the Music Content Sub-Code, it is projected
that the costs involved to undertake the review, up to the point of public
consultation and beyond will be quite costly;
36
(v) The net effect of these exercises and undertakings will mean greater
interfacing with industry players and the public at large. It would also mean a
higher usage of the Complaints Bureau’s services wherein the Content Forum
will need to boost the support given to the Complaints Bureau in order to
meet its KPI’s.
APPENDIX I
APPENDIX I
CMCF STUDY VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
Overview
• A study visit to the United Kingdom was undertaken by the CMCF and accompanied
by representatives from the MCMC and ASTRO. The main purpose for the trip was to
establish an inter-jurisdictional information sharing relationship and enhance
jurisdictional study on other regulators’ efforts to manage and to understand and
develop the industry in their respective jurisdictions. This includes the processes and
organisational functions of the regulators in the United Kingdom with emphasis on
complaint handling mechanisms.
• The members of the CMCF (and others) who travelled to the United Kingdom for the
trip were the following:
Name Organisation Designation
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Borhanuddin Osman CMCF Chairman
Tuan Syed Agil Shekh Alsagoff CMCF Hon. Secretary
Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek CMCF Hon. Treasurer
Cik Laili Hanim Mahmood CMCF Council Member
representing Y. Bhg.
Dato’ Amrin Awaluddin
(Vice-Chairman of the
CMCF)
Y. Bhg. Datuk Mohamed Bazain Idris CMCF Complaints Bureau
Chairman
Mohd Mustaffa Fazil Mohd Abdan CMCF Executive Director
Cik Elvira Shamsuddin MCMC Deputy Director,
Content Regulation
Department
Ms. Sharmitha Visvalingam ASTRO Senior Manager,
Regulatory Affairs
• Meetings were held with several regulatory authorities for the industry, namely:
Date of Meeting Regulator Industry Area 4 June 2008 PhonePay Plus
Phone paid services regulator
5 June 2008 BSkyB Plc Leading pay television broadcast service
6 June 2008 Advertising Standards Authority
Independent body set up by the advertising industry to police the rules laid down in the advertising codes.
9 June 2008 Office of Communications
(Ofcom)
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.
9 June 2008 BBC Trust The Trust works for the public which owns and pays for the BBC. The Trust is the sovereign body of the BBC, its independent trustees acting in the public interest.
1. PhonepayPlus
4 June 2008
1.1 The CMCF delegation’s first meeting with a regulatory body in the United Kingdom
was with PhonepayPlus (previously known as the Independent Committee for the
Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS)). The
organisation regulates phone-paid services in the UK – the goods and services
that consumers may purchase such as competitions, TV voting, helplines, adult
entertainment, downloads, news alerts or interactive games, by charging the cost to phone bills and pre-pay phone accounts. The money paid by users for these services
is shared between the phone network carrying the service and the organisation(s)
providing the content.
2
1.2 The delegation met with the following officers of PhonepayPlus:
Name Organisation Designation
Sir Alistair Graham PhonepayPlus Chairman
George Kidd PhonepayPlus Chief Executive
Paul Whiteing PhonepayPlus/
IMCB
Director of Policy &
Innovation / Director
Debarati Singh PhonepayPlus Head of Investigations
& Monitoring
Mark Collins PhonepayPlus Policy Executive
1.3 Further to the main role that the organisation plays, there also exists the
Independent Mobile Content Board (IMCB). The IMCB is a subsidiary of
PhonepayPlus, and was set up jointly between PhonepayPlus and UK mobile phone
networks to classify mobile phone content as being suitable or unsuitable for children
under 16. The Director of the IMCB, Paul Whiteing, is also PhonepayPlus’ Director of
Policy and Innovation.
1.4 The delegation was also introduced to the International Audiotext Regulators’
Network (IARN) that was set up as a forum for exchanging information and good
practice among its members. At the moment, major participating countries includes
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
1.5 The IARN seeks to develop closer ties with countries where phone paid Premium Rate
Services are consumed. IARN members are involved in the regulation of, and/or
setting standards for content and promotion of premium rate telephone services.
1.6 PhonepayPlus expressed their hope that Malaysia will soon join the IARN with the
CMCF and MCMC playing a role in the country’s involvement.
3
2. British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) Plc
5 June 2008
2.1 With the assistance of ASTRO, the delegation was able to visit BSkyB that operates
the leading pay television broadcast service in the UK and Ireland, as well as
broadband and telephony services. At 31 December 2007, there were over 8.8m
Direct-to-Home subscribers to its television service, 1.2m broadband subscribers and
915,000 residential telephony customers.
2.2 During the briefing by BSkyB, the delegation was informed that in addition to the
third party channels available through the Sky platform, Sky also owns and operates
over 25 channels with a portfolio spanning Entertainment and News as well as Movies
and Sports channels. Sky owned channels include Sky One, Sky News, Sky Arts, Sky
Movies and Sky Sports.
2.3 Sky also operates a High Definition TV service, currently consisting of 17 channels
allowing viewers to experience the enhanced quality of high definition for a range of
Sky owned and third party channels. The delegation was also informed of the various
regulatory standards that BSkyB has to adhere to as a pay television broadcast
service provider before a tour of the BSkyB complex was given.
2.4 The delegation met with the following officers of BSkyB:
Name Organisation Designation
Michele Swaine BSkyB Head of Strategic
Product Development
David Wheeldon BSkyB Director of Public
Affairs
David Carr BSkyB Head of Production
(Studios)
3. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
6 June 2008
3.1 The Advertising Standards Authority is the independent body set up by the
advertising industry to police the rules laid down in the advertising codes. The
strength of the self-regulatory system lies in both the independence of the ASA and
4
the support and commitment of the advertising industry, through the Committee of
Advertising Practice (CAP), to the standards of the codes, protecting consumers and
creating a level playing field for advertisers
3.2 The delegation was informed as how ASA is considered to be a `one stop shop` to
cover broadcast and non broadcast complaints. The ASA works under the auspices of
Ofcom whereby it operates as a self regulator but with a legal backstop. It is funded
by a levy on advertising expenditure with a staff force of 103 personnel. The
delegation was briefed on ASA’s operations with a first hand tour and briefing of how
the ASA processes its complaints to final adjudication.
3.3 The delegation met with the following officers of the ASA:
Name Organisation Designation
Christopher Graham ASA Director General
4. Office of Communications (Ofcom)
9 June 2008
4.1 Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK
communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio,
telecommunications and wireless communications services. Ofcom was established as
a body corporate by the Office of Communications Act 2002. Ofcom is the regulator
for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio,
telecommunications and wireless communications services.
4.2 The delegation was given a briefing on the various remits of Ofcom and the oversight
functions the Ofcom has over ASA and PhonepayPlus as the legal backstop for these
organisations to operate. The Ofcom discharges its duties in enforcing the
Communications Act 2003 and represents itself in parliament whereby it operates
with other Ministry’s in the United Kingdom as peers rather than an agency. The
Ofcom also observes European laws, for example, the Audio Video Media Devices
Directive. Further discussion covered areas of operations, guidelines and complaints.
5
4.3 The delegation met with the following officers of Ofcom:
Name Organisation Designation
Patricia Galvin Ofcom Head of International
Relations
Trevor Barnes Ofcom Senior Standards
Manager
Ian Blair Ofcom Head of Operations
Content, Legal &
International
Peter Bourton Ofcom Head of Commercial
Policy
Philip Candice Ofcom International Relations
Manager
5. BBC Trust
9 June 2008
5.1 The BBC Trust works for the public which owns and pays for the BBC. The Trust
listens to a wide range of voices, seeking to understand all opinions and expectations
to inform its judgements. The Trust seeks to ensure that the BBC is independent,
innovative and efficient: a creative and economic force for good in the United
Kingdom and internationally.
5.2 The Trust is the sovereign body of the BBC, its independent trustees acting in the
public interest. It has further aims to ensure:
(i) that the BBC remains independent, resisting pressure and influence from any
source;
(ii) that the BBC's management delivers public value by providing distinctive
services of the highest quality to all the people and all the communities across
the United Kingdom; and
(iii) that the BBC contributes to the standing of the United Kingdom in the world,
to the economy and to British culture
6
5.3 The BBC Trust gave a briefing on its role and responsibilities, its remit and regulatory
functions. The BBC Trust further explained its complaints and appeals procedures as
well as how it sets service standards and oversees performance of the BBC. The
Trust also considers proposals for new services or activities for the BBC.
5.4 The delegation met with the following officers of the BBC Trust:
Name Organisation Designation
Bruce Vander BBC Trust Complaints Manager
Gareth Barr BBC Trust Policy Analyst
APPENDIX II
APPENDIX II COMMUNICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA CONTENT FORUM OF MALAYSIA
FORUM KANDUNGAN KOMUNIKASI DAN MULTIMEDIA MALAYSIA
2
ORGANISATION STRUCTURE 2009
COUNCIL (presided by CMCF Chairman)
Executive Office (headed by
Executive Director)
Complaints Bureau (presided by the Complaints
Bureau Chairman)
Content Advisory Centre
Research & Monitoring Executive (III)
(Mohd Wahyuddin Mahmood)
Administrative Assistant
Nur Izwanni
Assistant Manager (Kalaiselvam Kanapathy)
Research & Monitoring Executive (II)
(Mohamad Firdaus Mustafar)
Research & Monitoring Executive (IV)
(Vacant)
Research & Monitoring Executive (I)
(Azrina Hernieyati Binti Che Aziz)