KANGAR: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is on a three-day working visit to Perlis, has presented donations from the Kasih@Hawana Fund to two former media practitioners facing health challenges.
The recipients were former Perlis FM announcer Rahmah Ahmad, 72, and former Bernama stringer Ramli Ismail, 74.
Rahmah, who retired in 2010, had been undergoing dialysis treatment three times a week for the past two years, in addition to having blocked arteries.
"I am touched by the gesture. I didn’t believe it when I was told that the minister would visit an old retiree like me.
"I appreciate the concern," she told Bernama at her home in Kuala Perlis, near here.
Rahmah served 30 years in the Malaysian Broadcasting Department (RTM) from 1974 until 1991 before being transferred to the state as Perlis FM announcer.
Ramli, who was attached to Utusan Malaysia in Kedah from 1972 until 1995 before working for Bernama from 1997 until 2021, said he had high blood pressure.
"I hope that my media practitioner colleagues will continue to carry out their duties well in today’s world, which is full of challenges," said Ramli, who was living with his wife, Rokiah Nor, 70, in Taman Guru Jaya, here.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said he hoped the contribution would bring joy to those involved in the media industry, whether retired or unwell.
"It (Kasih@Hawana Fund) is also hoped to strengthen ties and show that media veterans are never forgotten," he said.
On the contributions to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) for stringers, Fahmi said the ministry would speed up the initiative to safeguard their welfare, as announced previously.
"We have implemented it in the film sector. Those involved in journalism are next," he said.
Rahmah and Ramli were among the 57 media practitioners who had benefited from the Kasih@Hawana initiative since it was established in April last year.
Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Broadcasting Department director-general Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj were also present.
Tabung Kasih@Hawana was established in conjunction with the 2023 National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) celebration to reach out to media practitioners, former media personnel and veteran journalists in need.
It was an initiative by the Communications Ministry and implemented through Bernama as a continuous effort to help the media community face difficulties and life challenges. - Bernama
