BANGI: Indonesian and Malaysian media practitioners need to make use of social media applications such as WhatsApp to stay in touch and share current developments of both countries.

Malaysian-Indonesian Journalists Association (ISWAMI) Malaysia president Datuk Mokhtar Hussain said the medium was also a platform to strengthen the existing close relationship between Malaysian and Indonesian media practitioners.

"The media from these two countries (Malaysia and Indonesia) should always share the development of our respective countries.

"For example, we have set up a WhatsApp group that allows us to communicate every day," he said at a dinner held in conjunction with the Indonesian media group's visit to Malaysia here tonight.

The visit which is part of the group's four-day programme in Malaysia beginning today, is aimed at providing a platform for strategic cooperation between the Malaysian and Indonesian media, besides strengthening relations and understanding in addressing issues of mutual interest.

Mokhtar said ISWAMI Malaysia planned to hold a visit session for young Malaysian journalists to Indonesia soon.

Among those present at the dinner were Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) acting chief executive officer Roslan Ariffin, ISWAMI advisor Datuk Zakaria Abdul Wahab and national journalist Tan Sri Johan Jaafar.

The programme is a continuation of the Indonesia's Chief Editors Programme at the 2022 National Journalists Day (Hawana) in Melaka last May 29.

-- BERNAMA