Kuala Lumpur: As the designated country coordinator for ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation in Information and Media, Malaysia has urged all ASEAN member states to put forward strategic and collaborative initiatives to advance regional media cooperation. Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, in his presentation at the 22nd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI) and Related Meetings, revealed that no projects have been implemented to date under the ASEAN Plus Three Work Plan on Cooperation Through Information and Media (2018-2025).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Fauzi encouraged ASEAN State Members to leverage the support mechanism by proposing impactful and collaborative projects. These initiatives aim to strengthen media capacity, promote digital transformation, and deepen cooperation with Plus Three partners. He highlighted the successful completion of eight projects under the ASEAN-China Cooperation Work Plan on Enhancing ASEAN-China Cooperation through Information and Media 2018-2025, such as the ‘ASEAN Partners’ Media Cooperation Forum, The 6th ASEAN-China Media Week, and ASEAN-China Internet Spring Festival Gala.
The projects also include the Audio-Visual Program Dubbing and Broadcasting Project, led by Guangxi Radio and Television in collaboration with RTM Malaysia, Cambodia’s national television, and Vietnam Television. The Work Plan on Enhancing ASEAN-China Cooperation through Information and Media was extended to 2025, aligning with major ASEAN documents like the ASCC Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Communication Master Plan II.
Mohamad Fauzi noted the joint statements issued by ASEAN and China during the 27th ASEAN-China Summit in October 2024, calling for closer people-to-people ties and stronger media cooperation, including content sharing, co-productions, and countering disinformation. Additionally, the commitment to building a sustainable digital ecosystem by promoting infrastructure, 5G, AI, digital security, and inclusive digital transformation across sectors was reaffirmed.
In his intervention, Mohamad Fauzi announced the 4th Meeting of the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News (ASEAN TFFN) will be held virtually on July 23, while the 10th SOMRI Working Group on Information, Media and Training (10th SOMRI WG-IMT) is scheduled to take place from October 5 to 8 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The SOMRI Plenary Session began with welcoming remarks by Brunei’s Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Governance Division, Prime Ministers Office Ajman Meludin, reflecting the theme ‘MAJU-Media Advancing Joint Understanding: Transforming Media’s Role in Advancing Cooperation and Mutual Understanding in ASEAN.’
Ajman emphasized progress in refining the rule of law, enhancing journalist capacity, supporting government efforts in digital transformation, and ensuring inclusive and safe information exchange. The session also marked the handover of the SOMRI chair from Vietnam to Brunei. Mohamad Fauzi is leading the Malaysian delegation to SOMRI, which includes high-ranking officials from the Communications Ministry and its agencies.
The two-day SOMRI precedes the 17th AMRI, which will officially open on May 7, led by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. Tomorrow, SOMRI will continue with the 8th SOMRI Plus Three (China, Japan, and South Korea) and 5th SOMRI Plus Japan Meeting.