Much of the bias in Malaysian 'mainstream' media comes from stories that are not covered, and the terminology used.

There are seven guidelines that apply:

-Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
-Remain free of association and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility
-Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
-Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
-Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
-Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
-Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.

These "standards of practices" represent only one part of the code.

As with other ethical codes, there is a perennial concern that the standards of journalism are being ignored. One of the most controversial issues in modern reporting is media bias, especially on political issues, but also with regard to cultural and other issues. Sensationalism is also a common complaint. Minor factual errors are also extremely common, as almost anyone who is familiar with the subject of a particular report will quickly realize.

There are also some wider concerns, as the media continue to change, for example that the brevity of news reports and use of soundbites has reduced fidelity to the truth, and may contribute to a lack of needed context for public understanding. From outside the profession, the rise of news management contributes to the real possibility that news media may be deliberately manipulated. Selective reporting (spiking, double standards) are very commonly alleged against newspapers, and by their nature are forms of bias not easy to establish, or guard against.

This section does not address specifics of such matters, but issues of practical compliance, as well as differences between professional journalists on principles.

It is pathetic state to note that Malaysian mainstream news does not even a small percentage code of ethics and journalism professionalism.