Bernama Honours 84 Staff And Retirees For Dedicated Service

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- A total of 84 current and former staff of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) were honoured at the Bernama Appreciation Ceremony today in recognition of their dedicated service and lasting contributions to the organisation.

The event, held at Wisma Bernama, saw 62 employees, who have served between 15 and almost 40 years, receive the Long Service Award.

Also celebrated were 22 retirees, as well as deputy editor-in-chief (News Service) Nasriah Darus, who is scheduled to retire on July 21.

All of them were presented with certificates of appreciation by Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

In her address, Nur-ul Afida praised the loyalty and commitment of Bernama’s employees and retirees, calling it an exceptional achievement that should inspire future generations.

“May you continue to serve with excellence and leave a lasting legacy, not only within the organisation but also among your colleagues and future successors of Bernama.

“To all retirees and those soon to retire, I wish you a happy and healthy retirement filled with joy and success alongside your loved ones,” she said.

Nur-ul Afida said that in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, Bernama staff must remain anchored in integrity and strive to keep the news agency relevant and competitive amid technological shifts and changing market demands.

Bernama, she noted, has been entrusted with major roles in the lead-up to ASEAN 2025, including acting as the Host News Agency (HNA) and managing the International Media Centre (IMC) during key ASEAN meetings.

“This role includes providing regional media coverage, handling media registrations, and serving as the main hub for the distribution of official information throughout the ASEAN 2025 events,” she remarked.

Additionally, Nur-ul Afida said Bernama is also tasked with communicating ASEAN narratives to the global audience, supporting regional policies and strengthening ties among member nations, as well as distributing official materials such as speeches, live broadcasts, video recordings, news updates, and photographs to hundreds of media outlets worldwide.

“To meet these demands, Bernama is enhancing its human capital development and embracing a dynamic, creative work culture.

“In line with today’s digital transformation era, we are also proactively adopting the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to optimise efficiency, productivity, and the value of our services,” she added.

Also honoured at the ceremony were Bernama personnel involved in organising the 2025 National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA), as well as winners of the 2024 MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards (HKM), who received certificates and letters of appreciation.

The agency also presented retirement benefits to the family of the late Shahfiee Abu Bakar, a Bernama technical assistant who passed away on July 1 due to complications from diabetes.

-- BERNAMA