Fact checking of information is important, especially when digital and communication technologies are fast developing for communication and dissemination of information.
This was said by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof as Brunei Darussalam’s Minister Responsible for Information and as Vice Chairman of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) at the 16th Conference of the AMRI in Da Nang, Vietnam.
At the conference, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi also said the exploitation and manipulation of information may potentially disrupt ASEAN’s foundation.
He highlighted the importance to continue prioritising society’s trust through a strong legal framework to combat fake news; to work with other sectoral bodies under the other two ASEAN pillars such as ASEAN Political Security Community and ASEAN Economic Community to enhance capacity for stronger network security; to increase public awareness and encourage creativity and innovation in a safe and secure environment; and to leverage information literacy including communications link and networks under the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News to counter the misuse and abuse of data.
The minister said the information sector is a vital part of the world’s knowledge ecosystem and welcomed mutual engagement with dialogue partners towards increasing ASEAN’s presence outside the region which would boost ASEAN’s reputation and centrality through the support and mutual agreement in the traditional spirit of ASEAN solidarity.
The 16th AMRI themed, ‘Media: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN’ endorsed seven documents. Among them were; Vision Statement by AMRI – ASEAN 2030: A Transformative, Responsive and Resilient Information and Media Sector; Da Nang Declaration on ‘Media: From Information to Knowledge for a Resilient and Responsive ASEAN’; Guideline on Management of Government Information in Combating Fake News and Disinformation in the Media; Plan of Action of the ASEAN Task Force on Fake News; Extension of the Work Plan on Enhancing ASEAN-China Cooperation through Information and Media 2018-2024 to 2025; Extension of the Work Plan on Enhancing ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation through Information and Media 2018-2023 to 2025; and Joint Media Statement of the 16th AMRI and Related Meetings.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi also attended the seventh AMRI Plus Three.
Permanent Secretary (Civil Service Governance) at the PMO Ajman bin Meludin as Brunei Darussalam’s Senior Official Responsible for Information (SOMRI); acting director of Radio Television Brunei; acting director of information and senior officials from the PMO were also present.
Prior to the 16th AMRI and its related meeting, Ajman attended the 20th SOMRI and its related meetings in Da Nang.
Brunei will take over as Chair of the AMRI and SOMRI for two years from 2025 until 2026; and host the 17th AMRI as well as SOMRI meetings.
The minister also held a bilateral meeting with Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and discussed matters of mutual concerns relating to the field of information and media.
