BALI: The Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) delegation led by Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol together with Sarawak Deputy Secretary (Operation) Datu Hii Chang Kee had the opportunity to hold a special meeting with The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM) Co-founder and Managing Director Isanka P. Gamage in conjunction with the 11th World Conference on Media & Mass Communication (MEDCOM) 2026 here on Tuesday.
The meeting served as an important platform for UKAS to expand its international network, especially in the field of media and strategic communication.
This further opens up space for future collaboration with global organisations in strengthening the delivery of government information.
Meanwhile, according to Datuk Abdullah, the participation of the UKAS delegation in MEDCOM 2026 provided valuable exposure in improving the quality of the organisation and content for the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) to be held this year.
“The organisation of SMeC also takes into account ethnic diversity and is inclusive, especially in ensuring that the delivery of government initiatives can be understood by all levels of society.
“Therefore, it is important for the UKAS delegation to identify authoritative speakers to share their views and experiences,” he said.
During the meeting, he also expressed his congratulations to TIIKM for successfully organising MEDCOM 2026 which brought together industry experts, academia and media practitioners from all over the world.
Both parties also exchanged plaques as a symbol of appreciation and took commemorative photos.
Meanwhile, the second day of MEDCOM 2026 witnessed various academic sessions and panel discussions that focused on the future of media, including aspects of sustainability, communication justice and the challenges of the digital era.
Among the main contents were research paper presentations by international participants discussing the transformation of media in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), journalistic ethics and the role of communication in strengthening social resilience.
In addition, the panel forum also featured industry experts who shared their views on the importance of trust in the media, strategies to deal with false information and the need for a more inclusive and ethical approach to communication.
The UKAS delegation also took the opportunity to attend networking sessions with global media practitioners to exchange ideas and explore potential strategic collaborations in the future.
MEDCOM 2026 came to a close on Tuesday with the participation of over 200 participants from 40 countries.
MEDCOM 2027 is scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Thailand on 5 to 6 April with the theme ‘Signals Beyond The Algorithm: Humanity, Trust & Freedom in an AI-Driven Media World’. -UKASnews
