KUCHING: Sarawak's media community welcomes the idea of establishing a media clubhouse as a gathering place for journalists in the state to relax and socialise.
Federation of Sarawak Journalists Associations (FSJA) president Ronnie Teo said a space with internet access and resources would enable journalists to work while away from their office.
He said having a place for journalists to rest and recuperate was also crucial.
"This initiative is welcomed to bolster the effectiveness and productivity of the entire Sarawak media fraternity.
"We would like to work closely with the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) and the state government on this initiative," in a statement on Friday (Aug 15), adding that similar spaces should be set up in Sibu and Miri to cater to the needs of journalists there.
On Thursday (Aug 14), Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol said Ukas would consider a proposal to set up a media clubhouse here as a space for journalists to rest and interact outside their official duties.
"I strongly support this idea. Journalists work almost 24 hours a day and rarely have regular days off.
"Sometimes they don't have time to go home after their assignments, so this media clubhouse can be a place for them to gather, exchange ideas and relax," he said at the Sarawak National Journalists' Day (Hawana) main committee appreciation ceremony.
Abdullah added that the clubhouse could be equipped with a cafe, meeting rooms and recreational amenities for the use of media practitioners.
