MSIA AND INDONESIA ENHANCE COOPERATION IN CONTENT INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia today signed an
agreement to boost cooperation in the fields of information and communications
especially those involving the content industry for mutual benefits.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim
said this was necessary as cooperation in communications and information sharing
between the two countries was still lacking.

He said such cooperation was also necessary to speed up the enculturation of
the Malaysian and Indonesian identity as close neighbours in the region.

"We have discussed and we realise that there is a lack of content in
communication programmes in the mobile telephones, television and broadband.

"As such, Malaysia and Indonesia plan to use the content industry as an
important aspect," he said at a press conference after a meeting of the Joint
Committee on Information and Communication (JCICM) between Malaysia and
Indonesia, here.

The 17-member Indonesian delegation was led by Communication and Information
Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring.

Tifatul said Indonesia was worried about the negative developments in the
content industry and the foreign influence that could give a negative impact to
the Indonesian and Malaysian culture and identity.

Rais said it was also suggested that Bernama TV and the Indonesian national
news agency, Antara, be given a bigger role as the developers of programmes that
would benefit both countries.

He said Bernama TV and Antara were expected to meet at the end of the year
to study closely the programmes that could be carried out jointly.

Other matters that were also discussed were efforts to reduce the 'roaming'
charge for mobile telephone services in both countries and joint-ventures in
producing commemorative stamps for bilateral relations.


Rais said Malaysia also planned to widen the money remittance service to
Indonesia through Pos Malaysia.

The committee, which was set up in 1984, had met nine times with the last
meeting held in Jakarta in June 2008.

Meanwhile, Tifatul took the opportunity to visit Radio Television Malaysia
(RTM) here this afternoon.

During the visit at 2.30pm, the Indonesian minister was given a briefing on
the radio and TV operations at RTM.

-- BERNAMA



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