23 March 2004, Singapore – The Federation of ASEAN Public Relations Organisation (FAPRO) is on track for a long-awaited revival after members from three ASEAN nations held a meeting in Singapore on 6 March 2004.
Representatives from the Public Relations Society of Indonesia (PRSI); the Institute of Public Relations, Malaysia (IPRM); and the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS) met with the common objective of re-activating FAPRO. The shared aim is to create an effective industry platform in the region for mutual cooperation, the exchange of ideas and upholding best practices. FAPRO’s mission will also be one of supporting ASEAN’s goals and promoting the region as one entity.
FAPRO was inaugurated in 1976 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was granted an affiliation to ASEAN as an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) in 1979, with the same rights and obligations as stipulated in the Guidelines for ASEAN Relations with NGOs. The Organisation had held two Congress sessions and several informal meetings and exchanges, but has remained largely inactive over the last few years.
During the meeting, the three proponent members collectively agreed to set up and institutionalise the framework of FAPRO and to draw up an action plan for the Organisation. This will be presented to other members in ASEAN to garner their support and participation.
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Singapore will continue with its current tenure as the FAPRO Secretariat and Ms K Bhavani, President of IPRS, the Chairperson of FAPRO. Ms Bhavani said, “The meeting was very positive and a concrete first step in reviving FAPRO. It is an exciting time for PR organisations in ASEAN as we look forward to making significant contributions to our region and setting out to meet some of the original goals that FAPRO was intended to fulfil.”
The meeting was attended by:
Mr August Parengkuan, President, PRSI
Ms Magdalena Wenas, Secretary General, PRSI
Ms Rasila Hamzah, Council Member, IPRM
Ms K Bhavani, President, IPRS
Ms Kathy O’Brien, Vice President, IPRS
Mr Basskaran Nair, Fellow Member, IPRS
The next FAPRO meeting is scheduled for July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
