MALAYSIA'S PROPOSAL TO SET UP ASEAN NEWS GATEWAY GETS SUPPORT

From Zulkefli Salleh

VIENTIANE, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has received support from other Asean
member countries to set up a news and information gateway to increase
intra-Asean news and information flow, Information Communication and Culture
Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Friday.

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 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 building the Asean Community by 2015.

"My counterparts have expressed to me, their support for the initiative," he
told Bernama and RTM (Radio Television Malaysia) 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 has impressed upon the 10th AMRI conference on 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
achieve 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 noted.

On how the centre would be operating, 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 take a collective effort for the region to develop the creative industry
to provide contents 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, digital broadcasting and content or
creative industry.

In a joint media statement, AMRI Plus Three (Japan, Korea and China), noted
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 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 of 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 Southeast Asian Games
Stadium and Media Centre 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