463 Media Practitioners, Veterans Receive Benefits From Tabung Kasih@HAWANA - Fahmi

PENAMPANG, July 24 (Bernama) -- A total of 463 media practitioners and veterans nationwide have received benefits from Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative aimed at helping those facing life difficulties and health problems, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

He said efforts to support and channel assistance to media personnel facing health challenges or life difficulties would continue to ease their burden.

"We will increase our efforts with media associations and clubs in the states to help more media practitioners who are eligible to receive this assistance.

"So far, we have not spent the funds allocated from the two previous HAWANA programmes, with a contribution of RM1 million announced by the Prime Minister last year," he told reporters here today.

Earlier, Fahmi presented a contribution to Sabah State Information Department photographer Vicky Sylvester Matanjang, 52, who suffered serious injuries in a road accident in March.

Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.

The accident caused Vicky to suffer fractures in six of his left ribs and left hand, requiring him to undergo continuous physiotherapy treatment.

Vicky has served for 18 years at the Information Department since joining the service in 2007.

Fahmi said Vicky is the 24th recipient to benefit from Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative in Sabah.

"I have asked Bernama to look into the mechanism to collect funds to help more media practitioners in the future. However, for now, the funds that have been allocated have not been used up," he said.

Asked about the issue of journalists' salaries, especially in Sabah, which are still below RM2,000 despite having served for a long time, Fahmi said his party would obtain more information on the matter.

"I will ask Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) to obtain information on this situation for future discussion. I want to collect information not only from Sabah but also from all states. We will also look into other aspects including employment status, whether as a 'stringer' or a full-time employee," he added.

On Tuesday (July 22), Nur-ul Afida presented the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA contribution to Sabah News journalist Hafizul Andie Zulkarnain, 35, in Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu who is currently undergoing surgery due to complications of twisted intestines and a ruptured appendix.

Hafizul, who started working in 2020, is currently recuperating.

-- BERNAMA