KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) will join forces with Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) to identify media practitioners or veterans to receive assistance under the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative.
Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said the fund seeks to help 200 beneficiaries this year, adding that 142 media practitioners have received assistance since it was introduced in April last year.
“We hope to collaborate with GKMM, which will help us spread the word about this fund and the criteria to our media friends or former media practitioners.
“However, it is important for us to first gather the applicants’ information, as the approval process can take up to two weeks. We hope GKMM can assist in this,” she said after a courtesy visit on Tabung Kasih@HAWANA Secretariat by the GKMM committee members at Wisma Bernama, here today.
Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, deputy editor-in-chief (News Service) Nasriah Darus, and deputy editor-in-chief (Economic News Service) Azlina Aziz were also present.
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.
Meanwhile, GKMM president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak said that state media clubs under the coalition are ready to assist in locating media practitioners who need help and expediting and facilitating the process of receiving assistance.
He said Tabung Kasih@HAWANA is an excellent method to ensure the welfare of the media fraternity in Malaysia.
“I hope the government will continue this fund, as it was inspired by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim),” he added.
-- BERNAMA