KUALA LUMPUR: The six-month validity of the media card applies only to online media practitioners who have recently registered with the Information Department.
In a statement today, the department stated that the six-month period is intended to ensure that the online media operates actively, legitimately, and does not spread false information.
It further mentioned that only after fulfilling this period will they enjoy the same validity period as their peers in the industry.
In the statement, the department also announced the updated validity period of the media card.
The media card for local media practitioners carries a two-year validity period, whether government-owned or privately owned, including online media, while the validity period for international media practitioners who are Malaysians, has been increased to two years from the previous one year.
For media practitioners with annual contracts with media organisations, such as stringers who need to renew their contracts yearly, the media card carries a one-year validity period.
International media practitioners who are non-Malaysian and on long-term visit passes have a one-year validity.
The department said that the validity period takes effect immediately.
"Current holders of media cards issued by the department with an active validity period can apply for renewal after their respective media card expires."
On Tuesday, the department in a statement said it is adjusting the standard operating procedure (SOP) related to the issuance of media cards, including the media card's validity period.
The department did not indicate in the statement why the adjustment to the SOP on the issuance of the media cards was necessary.
The department was responding to a news portal report which claimed that it had significantly reduced the media card validity period for multiple online media journalists from various news agencies.
The portal said several online journalists had received media cards with a validity period that was reduced from two years to only six months.
