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Published: Friday November 6, 2009 MYT 5:56:00 PM

Malaysia’s proposal to set up Asean news gateway gets support


VIENTIANE: Malaysia has received support from other Asean members on its proposal for a news and information gateway to increase “intra-Asean news and information flow,” Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim claimed.

The Asean news centre, to be based in Kuala Lumpur, was proposed at the conference of Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) which was followed by the first conference of AMRI Plus Three which ended here Friday.

Rais told the conference that Malaysia was initiating the centre as it felt that Asean was in dire need of enhancing news and information flow to achieve its goal of building an Asean community by 2015.

“My counterparts have expressed to me, their support for the initiative,” he told Bernama and RTM before leaving for home at the end of the two-day meeting.

He said, however, they had asked that the centre, currently to be called the Asean Media Gateway, be a separate platform from the South-South Information Gateway (SSIG) which was established by his ministry to improve information flow.

Rais impressed upon the 10th AMRI conference the importance of drawing Asean people to be “Asean-oriented and Asean-thinking,” via news and information made available to them by various means, if the grouping were to succeed in building the Asean community by 2015.

“At this juncture, it may be surmised, indeed lamented, that news about Asean nations are really not of priority level, in some of our respective capitals,” he said.

On how the centre would operate, he said selected journalists from Asean countries could be seconded there for a stint, from which they disseminate footage and information to participating media networks and organisations, as well as provide necessary inputs.

To encourage interaction among Asean citizens. the minister also suggested that Asean countries look into the possibility of lowering cellular phone call charges within the grouping.

Asean information ministers at the 10th AMRI meeting also discussed the need to make a collective effort for the region to develop its creative industry to provide content for Asean people, in line with their identity.

Japan, Korea and China had, during the AMRI+3, pledged to forge greater cooperation with Asean countries in information, specifically in media exchange and training of media practitioners, and the digital broadcasting and content or creative industry.

In a joint media statement, AMRI+3 (Japan, Korea and China), said that the conference marked the formal start of cooperation in the information sector between Asean and its three dialogue partners.

Topping the list in the fields of cooperation are digital broadcasting, developing the creative industry via co-production in digital content between Asean and Plus Three countries, and media exchanges.

Japan, Korea and China, as well as India and the European Union, have moved ahead of Asean in digital broadcasting implementation.

The ministers also agreed that Asean adopt a phased approach towards switching off analogue broadcasting over a period from between 2015 and 2020.

They have tasked senior officials to draw up a work plan on Asean+3 cooperation in information.

Following the conference, the ministers visited the South-East Asian Games Stadium and Media Centre ahead here.

Laos is hosting the 25th SEA Games from Dec 9-18.

The 11th Conference of AMRI and the second conference of AMRI+3 have been scheduled to be held in Malaysia in 2011. -- Bernama

Editor’s note: Similar news exchange organisations have already been set up across Asia, for example the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies or OANA, of which Bernama is a member; and the Asia News Network or ANN. whose members include The Star and Sin Chew Jit Poh.

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