Indonesia Officially Hands Over CAJ Leadership to Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA) - Indonesia has officially handed over the leadership of the ASEAN Journalists Confederation (CAJ) to Malaysia at the CAJ General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday.
This leadership transition concludes Indonesia’s three-year tenure from 2022 to 2025.
“I feel honoured to officially announce that today we have successfully completed a smooth leadership transition. In a process marked by a spirit of collegiality and consensus, the leadership of the ASEAN Journalists Confederation has passed from Indonesia to Malaysia,” stated CAJ Secretary General and Head of the Permanent Secretariat for the 21st CAJ General Assembly, Ahmed Kurnia.
Ahmed expressed thanks to the previous CAJ President, Atal S. Depari, for his excellent leadership amid dynamic circumstances.
“Mr Atal not only steered the ship but also ensured we did not debate too long on direction and goals,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed also welcomed the President of the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), Low Boon Tat, as the new CAJ leader.
“Mr Low Boon Tat, we welcome your leadership with full confidence as we enter a new chapter in Kuala Lumpur,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed stated that the smooth transition is more than a formality; it is proof that, despite ASEAN’s diversity in culture, language, and even meeting styles, ASEAN journalists can share and speak the same language of solidarity.
Ahmed also announced that CAJ will officially adopt the Kuala Lumpur Declaration as a shared commitment and a compass for the organisation’s future.
Meanwhile, Atal S. Depari stated that the CAJ leadership transition from Indonesia to Malaysia marks an important moment as a continuation of the collective commitment to strengthening journalist solidarity in the ASEAN region.
Atal expressed gratitude that the entire CAJ General Assembly series proceeded well, smoothly, and in a spirit of togetherness.
“This shows that our organisation is not only structurally sound but also strong in its values of solidarity, professionalism, and shared responsibility for the future of journalism,” said Atal.
Atal believes that under Low Boon Tat’s leadership, CAJ will become even more relevant in facing contemporary challenges, particularly amid digital disruptions, disinformation threats, and the need to maintain professional integrity.
“To all CAJ members, I urge us to continue upholding the spirit of cross-border collaboration. ASEAN needs journalism that is not only strong nationally but also solid regionally,” said Atal.
“Congratulations to the new CAJ President. May CAJ grow stronger and more respected as an important pillar of ASEAN journalism,” exclaimed Atal.
New CAJ President Low Boon Tat expressed thanks for the trust given to him.
AI and Journalist Safety
In his address, Low Boon Tat reflected on the future of journalism amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and emphasised the importance of journalist safety, particularly in ASEAN, in carrying out their work.
“When we talk about the future of journalism, we are actually talking about the future of artificial intelligence or AI. AI is truly changing the way news is produced,” said Low Boon Tat.
He stated that in the future, AI will play a larger role in newsrooms, where it will make journalism faster and help news reach more people worldwide.
He also reflected on the importance of journalist safety, citing an incident in the Philippines where a journalist faced years of online harassment, including hate messages and abuse, simply for critically reporting on the government.
In Myanmar, journalists have also been detained while covering conflicts and subjected to military detention. According to him, this shows a pattern of harassment, intimidation, and dangers faced by media professionals across ASEAN. “And this is a major issue,” he said.
He stated that if ASEAN wants to promote honest journalism, it must protect journalists, including all media workers. Protection, he said, also involves better insurance.
“Insurance must not only cover basic injuries but also legal support, mental health care, equipment loss, and emergency assistance when working in high-risk areas. All media workers, not just journalists, must be included in this protection,” he urged.
He said that protection for media workers should not only come from media companies. Authorities across ASEAN countries also have a responsibility to do more.
“Governments need to create a safer environment for media workers, including enforcing laws against harassment and violence, ensuring attacks on journalists are properly investigated, and stopping the misuse of laws to silence reporting,” he stated.
The CAJ leadership transition from Indonesia to Malaysia was marked by the handover of the CAJ flag or banner from previous CAJ President Atal S. Depari to new CAJ President Low Boon Tat.
The flag handover ceremony from Indonesia to Malaysia was witnessed by Malaysian Deputy Minister of Communications YB Teo Nie Ching, General Chairman of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Akhmad Munir, and the PWI delegation, as well as journalist association delegations from ASEAN member countries.
Also present at the event were representatives of journalist associations from South Korea and China, Coordinator of Social and Cultural Information Functions at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur Fery Iswandy, and representatives from other friendly embassies to Malaysia.
The PWI Central delegation present at the event included Akhmad Munir as General Chairman, Atal S. Depari as Honorary Board Chairman, Ahmed Kurnia Soeriawidjaja as CAJ Director, Yono Hartono as CAJ Deputy Director, Agus Sudibyo as Head of Division