ASEAN 2025: Bernama Ready To Take On Role As Official Media And Coordinator For International Media Centre

By Yasmin Ahmad Zukiman

LANGKAWI, Jan 16  (Bernama) – The Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) is fully prepared to undertake the significant task of serving as the Official Media and Coordinator for the International Media Centre for the ASEAN Summit 2025, beginning with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Langkawi on Jan 18 and 19.

BERNAMA Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin stated that preparations for the retreat have been underway since December 2024 to ensure smooth operations in handling local and international media covering the event.

"As the official media, BERNAMA will also provide comprehensive coverage across all our platforms, including Bernama Wires, Bernama Photo, Bernama TV (Astro 502), Bernama Radio, and Bernama Digital.

"BERNAMA is proud to have been appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for this crucial responsibility. God willing, with our experience, I am confident that BERNAMA will carry out this duty to the best of its ability," she said.

She added that BERNAMA has also created a special microsite featuring news and photos related to ASEAN since Sept 1, 2024.

BERNAMA will also disseminate reports on Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship to foreign news agencies that are members of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and the Union of News Agencies of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (UNA).

Meanwhile, International Media Centre Coordinator Zaria Mohd Nasri said that to date, 274 local and international media representatives, including official media, have registered to cover the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Langkawi.

"In terms of preparation, the coordination team has been planning since last year and conducted three site visits to the event venue to ensure that all the needs of media practitioners are in place.

"This is because BERNAMA has been given the tremendous responsibility of coordinating media requirements, including providing news and photo materials to them," she said.

Zaria mentioned that facilities provided at the International Media Centre include workspaces, high-speed internet access, a refreshment area, an information and enquiry kiosk, and interview spaces.

Apart from this event, BERNAMA will also cover the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur and the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Johor next month.

Other meetings include the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Penang in May, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conferences (AMM/PMC) in Kuala Lumpur in July, another SOM in Negeri Sembilan, and the highly anticipated 47th ASEAN Summit in the capital city in October.

Malaysia assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship on Jan 1, 2025, from Laos, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” reflecting the nation's aspiration to foster a united and prosperous ASEAN.

This represents the fifth occasion that Malaysia has been at the helm of the ASEAN Chairmanship, having done so in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.

Founded on Aug 8, 1967, ASEAN now comprises 10 Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, while Timor-Leste's application for membership remains under review.

-- BERNAMA