DILI, 18 September 2025 (TATOLI) – The visit by a delegation from Malaysia’s National News Agency (BERNAMA) to Timor-Leste’s official news agency, TATOLI–one of the newest media agencies in the Asian region, headquartered in Farol, Dili–underscored both parties’ commitment to strengthening media cooperation.
The 10-member BERNAMA delegation was led by Deputy Editor-in-Chief of News Services, Mohd Shukri Ishak. Upon arrival, they were warmly welcomed with a traditional Tais draping ceremony by TATOLI’s Board Chair, I.P. Noémio Falcão, symbolizing friendship and mutual respect.
Following the welcome, both sides held a nearly 30-minute meeting, followed by a guided tour of TATOLI’s facilities, including the Multimedia Room, editorial workspaces, and the mini live-streaming studio.
In an interview, Mohd Shukri Ishak emphasized BERNAMA’s interest in exploring multiple avenues of collaboration with TATOLI, potentially formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“We see strong potential for cooperation between BERNAMA and TATOLI through an MoU that would allow us to exchange news and programs. We hope this can be realized, as further discussions are planned to establish a more robust framework for news exchange between Malaysia and Timor-Leste,” he told TATOLI on Thursday.
He also highlighted the possibility of journalist exchange programs, enabling TATOLI reporters to work at BERNAMA and vice versa, fostering deeper understanding and knowledge-sharing between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Noémio Falcão noted that BERNAMA’s visit holds strategic significance, especially as Timor-Leste prepares for its formal accession to ASEAN.
“Today we discussed key issues of mutual interest. Both parties agreed to draft a cooperation framework to be signed on October 26, coinciding with Timor-Leste’s official entry into ASEAN. The main components of this framework include journalist exchanges, training programs, and content sharing,” he explained.
He added that the establishment of BERNAMA correspondents in Timor-Leste and TATOLI correspondents in Malaysia is also part of the agenda.
“This initiative will enhance information exchange between our countries and support Timor-Leste’s growing presence on the international stage,” he concluded.
For context, BERNAMA (Malaysian National News Agency) is Malaysia’s official news agency, established in 1967 through an Act of Parliament and operational since May 20, 1968. It functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Communications and is headquartered at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur.
TATOLI – Agência Noticiosa de Timor-Leste, I.P., is Timor-Leste’s official news agency, launched on July 27, 2016. As a national information provider, TATOLI plays a vital role in delivering official state news and updates to both domestic and international audiences. It operates in Tetun and Portuguese –the official languages of Timor-Leste –as well as English and Bahasa Indonesia, which are defined as its working languages in the Constitution.
BERNAMA’s visit to TATOLI not only marks a step toward closer media ties but also reflects Malaysia’s support for Timor-Leste as it solidifies its new role within ASEAN.
Journalist: Cidalia Fátima
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
