Kitt Othman & Datin Arni Laily at the Lunch Escape
By Dr Rahim Said
There are lunches, and then there are Lunch Escapes. The former is about eating. The latter, as Tuesday’s gathering suggested, is about escaping the ordinary — escaping the office, escaping routine, and stepping into the brave new world of artificial intelligence.
Invited by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) for the event organised by PETRONAS, I arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur with an open mind and, as journalists often do, a healthy appetite for a good story.
The lunch was certainly delivered. The chefs at the Mandarin Oriental deserve full marks. The food was excellent, the service polished, and the setting suitably corporate without being stiff. The company was equally delightful — the ladies from PETRONAS’s Strategic Communications team were warm, engaging, and made the occasion all the more enjoyable.
Then came the panel. The theme was timely and important: “Credibility in the Age of AI: Navigating the New Frontier.”
The panel brought together respected names from broadcasting, media, journalism, corporate communications and crisis communications — Datin Arni Laily Anwaruddin, Senior General Manager, Strategic Communications of PETRONAS, Ashwad Ismail, Director-General of the Department of Broadcasting, Azeem Abu Bakar, Managing Director of Free Malaysia Today, and Mustapha Kamil, a veteran media executive and corporate trainer. Moderating was Kitt Othman, General Manager, Strategic Communications, Upstream, PETRONAS.
From left: Ashwad, Azeem and Mustapha
Together, they explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping the media and communications landscape. From the newsroom to the corporate boardroom, AI is changing how information is produced, shared, and verified. The discussion reminded us that while technology can accelerate production, credibility remains the cornerstone of journalism and corporate communications.
The panel highlighted the challenges of misinformation, the importance of verification, and the evolving role of communicators in an age where AI can generate content at lightning speed.
They also touched on the responsibilities of organisations like PETRONAS in safeguarding trust and reputation, especially in times of crisis when false narratives can spread rapidly.
It was clear that the conversation is only beginning. AI is not just a tool; it is a force that will continue to redefine credibility, trust, and the way audiences engage with information.
Still, I am glad I went. The event brought together people who genuinely understand different sides of the media and communications ecosystem. That itself is valuable. And I remain grateful to MPI and PETRONAS for the invitation.
Besides, there was lunch. A good lunch should leave you satisfied.
A good forum should leave you hungry — hungry to read more, investigate more, and think differently. I left the Mandarin Oriental well fed and reminded that in the age of AI, the value of a good human question becomes infinitely greater.
WE