Former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Datuk Nalini Pathmanathan is appointed as the first chairman of the newly established Malaysian Media Council (MMC). This is a important step in the council’s efforts to strengthen the country’s media industry.
The appointment was unanimously endorsed by the MMC members board during a meeting on 26th May 2026.
In a statement, the council described this as a significant milestone that will help to guide the organisation during it’s early years as it works towards becoming a independent and credible organisation that serves the public interest.
The Malaysian Media Council was established under Malaysian Media Council Act 2025 as a self-regulatory body for the media industry. It’s responsibilities include promoting ethical journalism, improving professional standards within the media, managing a public complaints mechanism, and protecting media freedom.
Nalini’s legal experience all this years and commitment to judicial independence, the rule of law and access to justice makes her a suitable lead to the organisation as it starts to carry out it’s responsibilities.
A Well-Known Legal Career
Nalini retired from Federal Court in February after being in Malaysia’s judiciary for 18 years. In her career, she served all three levels of the country’s superior courts and authored approximately 325 reported judgements, even several important decisions in constitutional and commercial law.
She also made history, as she was the first woman of South Asian ethnicity to be appointed to Malaysia’s superior judiciary. Before that, she was a private legal practice with Messrs Skrine for more than two decades. Since her retirement, she still contributed to the legal field as a arbitrator and mediator.
MMC said that Nalini takes the role at a time when media industry is facing challenges, including financial pressure on news organization, rapid technological changes, the rise of AI, the spread of misinformation, threats against journalists and declining public trust in news media.
Nalini also brings international experience to her role. She’s been a vice-chair of the International Bar Association’s Judges Forum, membership in the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts, and serving in a judicial capacity at Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre.
