By Monica Phang, Programme Manager, AIBD

 Malaysia’s fusion dance accompanying by the heart-warming gesture concluding Song – Malaysia Truly Asia kick-off the Inaugural Launching Ceremony of the 19^th Asia Media Summit (AMS) 2024, on the 3^rd of September 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.

Under the theme “The New Odyssey”, the historical inaugural ceremony set the stage for discussions and deliberations during the next two days on diverse current global issues impacted by digital revolution bought about by the emergence of A.I

The fusion dance, depicting Malaysia as a multi-racial, multi-cultural and diverse ethnic nation whereby all communities are living harmoniously together while preserving and upholding their respective traditional custom and culture.

Choreographed by the founder of AkarSeni Malaysia Entertainment, Mr Hazlami Harun, the six dancers in their respective costume are representing the Malay, the Indian and the Chinese races with the Iban, Kadazan and Orang Asli from the ethnic communities.  These dancers took to the stage with their graceful charms and dancing gestures of “Goodwill” in welcoming delegates, to the applause of everyone present including the foreign delegates that Malaysia is Truly Asia.

Some 400 delegates from across the Asia and the Pacific region are attending the 2-day summit, officiated by the Deputy Minister of Communications, Malaysia, Hon. Teo Nie Ching who stuck the “Gong” three times as a Malaysia’s culture of symbolic inaugural launching ceremony.   

Also in attendance were the Minister of Information, Cambodia, Hon. Neth Pheatkra; Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Papua New Guinea, Hon. Timothy Masiu; Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister Office, Brunei Darussalam and SOMRI Vice-Chair for ASEAN, H.E Awang Ajman bin Meludin; Federal Court Judge of Malaysia, Hon. Justice Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera; members of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps and senior government officials.

Malaysia hosted the 19^th Asia Media Summit 2024 for the 7^th time at its home ground after nine (9) years ago in 2015.  The 1^st Asia Media Summit (AMS) was initiated by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in 2004 and was held for five (5) consecutive years in Kuala Lumpur until 2009 which   starting its first overseas journey to Macau, China.

There were nine (9) series of pre-summit workshops which were also conducted simultaneously from 1^st & 2^nd September 2024 as prelude activities to the 19^th AMS 2024. Some 530 foreign and local Malaysian participants including university and secondary school students attended these pre-summit workshops.

The 19th Asia Media Summit 2024 not only marked a milestone in Malaysia’s role as a host but also set a vibrant tone for the discussions ahead. With her rich cultural performances and the presence of distinguished leaders and experts from around the region, it promises to inspire innovation and unity across the Asia-Pacific media landscape, fostering deeper ties among the global broadcasting and media community.