JAKARTA, Nov 10 — The state news agencies of Indonesia and Malaysia today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the sharing of news and information through various media platforms.
The MoU between Perusahaan Umum Lembaga Kantor Berita Nasional ANTARA and the Malaysian National News Agency, BERNAMA, encompasses the sharing of news and information programmes for broadcast over television and social media.
ANTARA president director Meidyatama Suryodiningrat and BERNAMA chief executive officer Datuk Mokhtar Hussain signed the MoU at a hotel here in the presence of visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Mokhtar, in a joint statement, said: “This agreement will serve as a springboard for ANTARA and BERNAMA to move forward unimpeded in the current challenging media landscape which is seeing greater use of new technologies in the gathering and distribution of news and information.
“The news exchange between ANTARA and BERNAMA goes back several decades and, if I may recall, BERNAMA’s first overseas correspondent was stationed in Jakarta way back in October 1971. This speaks well for the affinity we share in our business.”
Meanwhile, Suryodiningrat said today’s agreement (MoU) is a step forward in terms of cooperation between ANTARA and BERNAMA.
“It is my sincere hope for our news agencies to work closely and strengthen our mutually beneficial ties in various areas. In addition, I believe both our agencies will be able to cope effectively with all existing challenges,” he said.
The cooperation in news and information sharing also fortifies the long-established relations between the two countries.
ANTARA and BERNAMA established ties more than five decades ago.
The signing of the MoU will cement the relationship and take cooperation to a new level in the changing media landscape of the digital era.
ANTARA is a state-owned news agency established on Dec 13, 1937, in Jakarta and provides news services to various media organisations. It has journalists all over Indonesia and in several countries.
In 2020, ANTARA maintained the ISO 9001: 2015 that verified product quality assurance for clients.
ANTARA distributes products through the web, social media and television.
The news agency provides web-based distribution of all the latest news in various categories 24 hours a day.
BERNAMA was established on May 20, 1968, via the BERNAMA Act 1967 and has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
It is a state-owned news agency which distributes news over multiple platforms including BERNAMA TV, BERNAMA Radio and social media networks.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency