| Danial Norjidi |
THE era of rapid and sophisticated digital development and technology brings about the need to keep up with the dynamic environment and changes, said Permanent Secretary (International) at the Prime Minister’s Office Pengiran Datin Shazainah binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Shariffuddin.
She made the statement during the 28th Joint Technical Committee Meeting for Cooperation in the Field of Broadcasting and Information between the Government of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Republic of Singapore at the Prime Minister’s Office in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.
She added that it is necessary for media practitioners to educate and ensure an informed society.
Pengiran Datin Shazainah said that media is a tool that has the ability to influence human opinions and behaviour.
The permanent secretary said that in the ever increasingly connected digital era, there are many challenges where information is easily accessed through the Internet, providing an opportunity for people to act as informal media.
It was stated that this led to the increase of dissemination of false news and information, affecting the well-being, security and social cohesion in society that can cause negative consequences over a long period of time, she added.
She said that the issue is to find a way to educate and equip people with the abilities and skills to distinguish between true facts and false news.
She also expressed confidence for Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore to work more closely through experiences that can be shared and attained in the field of broadcasting and information, in which both countries have long collaborated in producing many programmes together.
It is important for the agencies involved in this collaboration to review the effectiveness of these programmes to ensure maximum benefits and strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Gabriel Lim said that although both countries are small in size, the close cooperation between the two is stronger, especially in the face of new challenges such as false news.
He also praised efforts to strengthen bilateral ties by involving the youth of both countries in the broadcasting of a TV exchange programme called ‘Action’, as well as the exchange of information officers and staff. The bilateral cooperation is not limited to broadcasting and information fields but is also expected to be applied to in the field of training.
He highlighted the value of the friendship between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore, particularly through platforms of sharing knowledge and experience.
The meeting discussed several issues affecting the direction, projects and activities in the field of broadcasting and information carried out jointly by agencies involved such as Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and the Information Department of Brunei Darussalam with the Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Singapore; the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore and Singapore broadcasting company MediaCorp Pte Ltd.
Director of RTB Haji Muhammad Suffian bin Haji Bungsu, Acting Director of Information Mawardi bin Haji Mohammad and officials from Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore were also present.