500 Media Practitioners Have Benefitted From Tabung Kasih@HAWANA

GEORGE TOWN,  Sept  15 (Bernama) -- A total of 478 media practitioners nationwide have received assistance under the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA fund.

The initiative was introduced in 2023 under the Communications Ministry and implemented through the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) to support serving and retired journalists and other media practitioners who are facing hardships or financial difficulties.

The 500th recipient is Kwong Wah Yit Poh journalist, Choo Kar Chun, 44, who received the donation from Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil at his residence in Air Itam, here today.

Fahmi, currently on a three-day working visit to Penang for the 2025 Malaysia Day celebration to be held at the PICCA@Arena Butterworth Convention Centre tomorrow, took some time to visit Choo to hand over the cash assistance and essential items.

Fahmi was accompanied by Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

According to a statement by HAWANA, Choo, who is the 22nd recipient in Penang, has been with the Chinese-language newspaper since 2018.

In October last year, he began experiencing hearing problems, thus affecting his ability to communicate.

"He now requires a hearing aid to facilitate interactions in daily life as well as carrying out his duties as a journalist," read the statement.

The establishment of Tabung Kasih@HAWANA reflects the spirit of Malaysia MADANI by upholding values of compassion and care, particularly for media practitioners who have long contributed to society, but are now facing life and health challenges.

-- BERNAMA