Kuala Lumpur (People's Daily) — Nearly 100 media representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and regional observers gathered in Kuala Lumpur this week for the 21st Confederation of ASEAN Journalists General Assembly.

ASEAN media representatives at the 21st Confederation of ASEAN Journalists General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday, April 27, 2026. (Photo: People's Daily)

The assembly, themed "The Future of AI and Its Impact on Journalism," adopted the Kuala Lumpur Resolution and Action Plan 2026-2028.

The adoption reaffirms ASEAN's collective commitment to strengthening journalism, safeguarding press freedom and advancing ethical innovation in the digital era.

Participants included journalists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, alongside observers from Myanmar, China and South Korea. The All-China Journalists' Association attended as an observer.

In her opening speech Malaysian Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching called on ASEAN journalists to strengthen ethical standards, deepen regional cooperation and reinforce responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) as the media industry undergoes rapid digital transformation.

Teo said ASEAN journalists play a critical role in shaping a responsible and resilient media ecosystem, particularly amid the rise of AI technologies.

She said journalism must remain human-centered in the ever-evolving nature of tech in the media industry.

"AI should serve as a tool to support journalists, not replace human judgment, ethics, and accountability," she said.

The General Assembly this year also witnessed the National Union of Journalists Malaysia assume the confederation presidency and will continue to hold the presidency until the next term.

In his speech, union president and newly appointed confederation president Low Boon Tat said the future of journalism was inseparable from the rise of AI.

"When we talk about the future of journalism, we are really talking about the future of artificial intelligence or AI," Low said.

AI is already transforming newsroom operations by enabling faster processing of large datasets, identifying emerging trends, assisting in basic news writing and supporting real-time translation across languages, he said.

"Authorities across ASEAN countries also have a responsibility to do more," Low said. "Governments need to create safer environments for media workers.

"This includes enforcing laws against harassment and violence, ensuring that attacks on journalists are properly investigated and stopping the misuse of laws to silence reporting."

Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) is one of the oldest and most active regional media organizations in Southeast Asia.

Founded in 1975, it provides a forum for journalists' cooperation, eight years after the creation of ASEAN. CAJ was conceived to help people understand the region's diversity and promote regional cooperation.

As ASEAN evolved and expanded, so has the membership of CAJ which now comprises Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia, National Union of Journalists Malaysia, National Press Club of the Philippines, Singapore National Union of Journalists, Confederation of Thai Journalists, Vietnam Journalists Association, Laos Journalists Association and the Club of Cambodian Journalists of Cambodia.