KUCHING, May 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an additional RM1 million allocation for Tabung Kasih@Hawana next year.
He delivered the good news at the highlight of the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2024 celebration today.
“I want to extend it because last year I announced RM1 million for Tabung Kasih@Hawana, so I will continue with the RM1 million allocation for Tabung Kasih@Hawana,” Anwar said in his opening speech.
Also present were Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Ammar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Sarawak Corporate Affairs, Information and Public Communication Unit) Datuk Abdullah Saidol, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, and his deputy Teo Nie Ching.
Also in attendance were Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Chief Executive Officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, and Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
When opening Hawana 2023 in Ipoh, Perak, Anwar also announced a RM1 million allocation for the fund.
Earlier, in his welcoming speech at the event, Fahmi said that since the initiative was introduced last year, 102 former and current media practitioners in need have been assisted.
Tabung Kasih@Hawana was established in conjunction with the Hawana 2023 celebration to support journalists and media personnel, both active and retired, who are ill or in need of assistance.
This initiative by the Communications Ministry is implemented through Bernama.
Hawana is the largest gathering of journalists in Malaysia, and this year’s edition, themed “Etika Teras Kewartawanan Mapan”, is held in Sarawak for the first time.
About 1,000 guests comprising media practitioners from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Timor Leste, China, South Korea, Qatar, France, and Kuwait have gathered here since Saturday (May 25) for the three-day celebration.
Hawana 2024 is organised by the Communications Ministry in collaboration with the Sarawak government, with Bernama being the implementing agency.
May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists’ Day, in conjunction with the publication of the maiden edition of Utusan Melayu on May 29, 1939, to celebrate the contributions of media practitioners.
— Bernama
