Bernama-TATOLI Foster Collaboration In News Sharing, Journalism Training
BUTTERWORTH, June 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and Timor-Leste’s news agency, Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste (TATOLI), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen media cooperation between the two ASEAN member states.
Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said the MoU will ensure a closer collaboration in the sharing of news, photos, and multimedia content, in addition to training and journalism courses.
She said the collaboration not only can reinforce Bernama’s position regionally and globally, but also can ensure that the voice and narrative of the ASEAN region be shaped by local news agencies.
“The people of Timor-Leste, which is the 11th ASEAN member state, can deepen their knowledge of Malaysia through Bernama news that is broadcast on the TATOLI platform in four languages, namely Tetum, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, and English.
“Bernama, which now reports in six languages, namely Bahasa Melayu, English, Tamil, Mandarin, Arabic, and Spanish, is also considering to come up with Portuguese translations following this memorandum. This will enable Bernama to reach the demography of the speakers of that language all over the world,” she said.
The exchange of the MoU was officiated by Communication Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Timor-Leste’s Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebration at the PICCA convention centre here, today.
Also in attendance were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
The MoU was signed by Nur-ul Afida and TATOLI President Noémio Mateus Soares Falcão on behalf of the two agencies, recently.
According to Nur-ul Afida, TATOLI began expressing its intention to foster the collaboration before Timor-Leste officially became a member of ASEAN in October 2025, and Bernama evaluated the idea in order to ensure a win-win situation, including for the staff of both organisations.
Through the collaboration, a group of reporters from Timor-Leste are expected to undergo training at Bernama before the end of the year.
According to Nur-ul Afida, Bernama has editors and special teaching staff in specific fields on various platforms such as online news, television, digital media, radio, and photography who can share their experiences with TATOLI.
She said Bernama also has more than 20 years of experience in conducting training, and runs a Bernama Excellence Centre that operates the Bernama School of Journalism.
“Therefore, Bernama is confident that we can provide TATOLI staff with proper training,” she said.
Meanwhile, Falcão reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening cooperation and sharing experiences with Bernama.
He said that through partnership and constructive dialogue, both agencies could strengthen journalists’ professional capacity, promote innovation in the media sector, and contribute to the development of a free, responsible, and beneficial information environment for society as a whole.
“On behalf of all my colleagues at TATOLI, as the official news agency of Timor-Leste, I highly value Malaysia’s efforts to continue promoting press freedom, journalistic ethics, and the right of the people to access accurate and credible information,” he said.
Falcão added that these values are important in today’s world, where information travels quickly across various digital platforms.
“This environment requires great responsibility in social media to ensure that the news received by the public is factual, verified, and guided by professional journalistic principles,” he said.
Bernama was established under an Act of Parliament on April 6, 1967 and officially launched on Aug 30, 1967, in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
TATOLI was established in 2016 and is responsible for disseminating official information from the government of Timor-Leste.
HAWANA 2026, organised by the Communications Ministry with Bernama as the implementing agency, was also attended by Cambodia’s Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Information Prak Thaveak Amida, Laos’ Permanent Secretary of Cabinet Office at the Ministry of Technology and Communications Phuangpasert Keosouvanh, and media practitioners.
-- BERNAMA
