Inforium Melayu Islam Beraja

Brunei journalists to form Club?

BRUNEI at last has its own Press Club, thanks to local media practitioners from mainstream news media who have decided to join hands to form Brunei Darussalam Press Club.


With the incorporation of the Brunei Darussalam Press Club, mass media practitioners in the country now have a platform to address and act on issues pertaining to their well-being, including matters on their roles and responsibilities as main purveyors of information and opinion about public affairs in a society that observe Melayu Islam Beraja as a way of life.

That would be a two paragraphs opening nice news story Brunei journalists would like to see happening in the near future. It will be a dream comes true; a dream that has been around for so long but never got off the ground to see the light of the day for it to become a reality.

So now a handful of local journalists from the Borneo Bulletin, Brunei Times and Media Permata have decided it’s high time to keep the dream alive. They view the forming of a community of media practitioners in Brunei as a pressing need, especially in view of the advent of citizen journalism in this new era web publishing and digital technology.

They also agree that it is high time to set journalistic standards in Brunei. And they would consider MIB as a point of reference for good elements that could empower them with tools that they need in performing their roles and responsibilities with integrity based on the principles of truth, disclosure, and editorial independence.

For that, they have agreed to join hands in organising a forum or to be precise an ‘Inforium’- a connotation of information sharing session, a forum and a symposium.


The aim is to bring together media practitioners, active bloggers and other new citizen journalists on such platform where they could exchange views and discuss their hopes and concerns on matters important to their profession as chief purveyors of information and opinions on public affairs. Other relevant stakeholders would also be included to ensure more and richer substance in their deliberations.The Inforium will take on the theme, “The Media Role, Responsibilities and Challenges in Upholding Melayu Islam Beraja in the Era of Digital Technology”.


The expectation is that, the ‘Inforium’ will generate interesting debates on what matters in the sphere of journalism, their concerns on freedom of speech and expressions, ethics and journalism standards in this era of web publishing and digital technology, and the challenges in operating in a society that live up to the ideal of Malay Islamic Monarchy.


What is ‘Good Practice’ for Brunei journalist in the context of Islamic teachings, in the context of Malay customs and traditions, and in the context of the system of governance in the country?


These are some of the interesting questions that are expected to be examined at the Inforium that will feature mixture of speakers and panelists proficient in journalism as well as those experts in MIB. For this matter, MIB Council being the authority in Melayu Islam Beraja affairs has been consulted for advice and support.


It is hoped that the Inforium will helped elevate and empowered local media practitioners in the country as professional journalists in the true sense, a shift from a mediocre diary reporting journalism. Also expected is a resolution that will serve as references and guidelines on best practices, ethics and journalism standards in Brunei. And it is also hoped that the Inforium will be a catalyst to the formation of Brunei Darussalam Press Club.


In this endeavor, PPP Ilmu Alim, a local management consultancy firm has been appointed as facilitator and event management.


When it will be held is not yet decided. However an invitation is now extended to other relevant parties to come on board for preparatory discussion sessions. Those interested may contact 8735-777 for further details.