Senior Makkal Osai Editor Receives Tabung Kasih@HAWANA X TM Contribution

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Makkal Osai senior editor Rajan Boopalan, who is currently receiving treatment at Selayang Hospital for complications from high blood pressure, has received a contribution under the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA X TM initiative.

The contribution, as a gesture of concern and moral support, was presented by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, who visited the veteran journalist at the hospital today. The assistance was handed over to his wife, A. Saraswathi.

Teo said Rajan, 68, is a dedicated media practitioner who has served the local journalism industry for 45 years, including 15 years with the Tamil-language newspaper.

"He was brought to hospital on Sept 8 after falling in the toilet due to complications from high blood pressure. He was previously placed in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and was transferred to a regular ward last Friday.

"So, today, I, together with the Bernama management, paid a visit to convey some assistance to his family under the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative," she told reporters after visiting the veteran media practitioner.

The visit was also attended by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Bernama Head of Management Services and Finance Sharifah Zaini Syed Zain.

Rajan was previously reported to have been found unconscious at his home before further examinations confirmed that a blood vessel in his head had ruptured.

He subsequently underwent a surgical procedure to remove the blood clot and his condition is now reported to be stable as he receives further treatment.

Commenting on the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative, Teo said as of today, 253 media practitioners had benefited from it, with total contributions amounting to RM770,300.

She said 42 of the total recipients this year were media practitioners from Tamil-language media agencies.

Tabung Kasih@HAWANA X TM is an expansion of the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative through funding from Telekom Malaysia's (TM) corporate social responsibility (CSR) contribution to assist more media practitioners facing difficulties and in need of support.

Since assistance under the collaboration began to be distributed in June 2026, a total of 89 media practitioners nationwide have benefited from the initiative.

Overall, since Tabung Kasih@HAWANA was introduced in April 2023, a total of 859 media practitioners nationwide have benefited from the initiative, which is spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications and implemented through Bernama.

-- BERNAMA