Two Former Sarawak Media Practitioners Receive Tabung Kasih@HAWANA Assistance

KUCHING, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Two former media practitioners in Sarawak, who are facing health issues, received assistance today under the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative.

They are former Sarawak Bureau Chief of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), Effendi Ariffin, and former Suara Sarawak journalist, Ismaili Basmawi.

The contributions were presented by Bernama Chief Executive Officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and the agency’s Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj here.

“Effendi has been suffering from a stroke since March, while Ismaili, who has kidney problems, requires dialysis three times a week,” according to a statement issued by the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) Secretariat.

In addition to his role at Bernama, Effendi, 76, also served as press secretary to the fourth Chief Minister of Sarawak, the late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Ismaili, 56, began his journalism career at The Borneo Post in 1991, and has since worked at Malaysia Today, Berita Harian, Eastern Times, Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak.

To date, a total of 142 media practitioners facing hardships and requiring assistance have benefited from the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative since it was introduced in April last year.

Tabung Kasih@HAWANA was established in conjunction with the celebration of HAWANA 2023, to support journalists, media personnel and veteran journalists who are ill or in need of assistance.

It is an initiative under the Ministry of Communications, implemented by Bernama, assisting both active and retired journalists and media personnel.

-- BERNAMA