Hawana 2022 platform to strengthen ties between Malaysian, Indonesian journalists

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- The National Journalists Day 2022 (HAWANA) celebration on May 29 is seen as the best platform to further strengthen bilateral relations and close cooperation between Malaysian and Indonesian journalists.

Malaysian-Indonesian Journalists’ Association (ISWAMI) president Datuk Mokhtar Hussain said HAWANA 2022 would invite 17 key media leaders from Indonesia including ISWAMI Indonesia to attend the programme.

He said the close cooperation between journalists of the two countries has been long established and it played an important role in strengthening bilateral relations between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments, which in turn contributed to the development of the neighbouring nations.

“Their presence (Indonesian media representatives) means a lot and symbolises a consensus between journalists from the two countries besides allowing us to exchange opinions, skills and knowledge,” he said.

Mokhtar said this when interviewed on Bernama Radio’s Jendela Fikir programme: HAWANA 2022 Edition entitled 'Close Relationship between Malaysian and Indonesian Journalists', which was broadcast live on Bernama Radio’s Facebook page, today.

HAWANA 2022, organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) with the support of ISWAMI and the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, will take place in Bandar Hilir, Melaka this Sunday and will be attended by local journalists and media practitioners as well as representatives from several neighbouring countries.

Apart from HAWANA, Mokhtar said ISWAMI also planned to increase the involvement of young journalists and editors to further expand media cooperation between both countries.

“We plan to strengthen this relationship by expanding it to the young people. In mid-June, we plan to bring 20 young editors from Indonesia to Malaysia, and vice versa, because the role of these young people needs to be highlighted,” he said.

In the meantime, he hoped that HAWANA would also be a platform for the community to understand the profession of journalism and join hands with journalists and media practitioners to make Malaysia a better country.

-- BERNAMA