Asean Needs To Capitalise On New Media

By Noor Farhana Ahmad Norain KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- Asean needs to capitalise the new media as an important way to increase effectiveness in its usage, said Philippine Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio B. Colombo Jr. He said the social media had become an important tool to engage the citizens in the Philippines which comprised about 90 million mobile phone users and 30 million internet users. "...and most of the young people prefer to read the news on the internet, rather than physical newspaper. So, we really need to capitalise on this new phenomena, development so that we can increase the effectiveness of our different mass media. "Technology is our ally in building a higher level of conciousness," he said on the sidelines of the 11th Conference of Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) here Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin opened the conference Thursday morning. In his opening speech, Muhyiddin called on Asean member states to lay out a multi-platform framework, by engaging both the mainstream and social media to facilitate a free flow of information to enlighten the people in the region and create mutual support and assistance among members. Vietnam Vice-Minister of Information, Nguyen Thanh Hung, however said that in ensuring a free flow of information, negative aspect of the social media must also be taken into consideration. He called on Asean members to have a common understanding and common voice on the matter. "We all recognise the advantage of the new media, like the social network, but we also realise the negative aspect of social media. We think that Asean should discuss in detail, how to improve the positive aspect of the social network and how to adjust it to benefit each member and the common interest of the community," he said. Prof Thongthong Chandransu, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand, on the other hand, pointed out the aspect of social responsibity in engaging both mainstream and social media to facilitate a free flow of information. In the context of Thailand, he said, its legal infrastructure was already at its best to facilitate the engagement. "Social responsibility should be in the hearts of the people who use the social media. The things in the social media should be the correct ones and (the user must) take responsibility at heart," he added. The three-day conference is themed, 'Media: Connecting Peoples and Bridging Cultures towards One Asean Community'. The 10-member regional grouping, with a combined population of about 600 million, comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. -- BERNAMA