KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (KKMM) is planning to set up a special foundation to help media industry practitioners who have lost their jobs, said its Deputy Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
He said that the proposal was still in the discussion stage with associations involving the media, and he expected the foundation to be established in the near future.
He explained that the foundation would not only help former media practitioners who lost their jobs due to the impact of industry changes and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, but would also serve as welfare assistance for industry workers.
“This foundation will be managed by media associations with the help of the government. There should be government intervention to help the foundation to succeed.
“We (KKMM) also plan to give tax exemption to any company that contributes to this foundation,” he said at a press conference at Wisma TV Angkasapuri here today.
Earlier, Zahidi chaired a nearly two-hour meeting with representatives from six local media practitioners’ associations, including the association of former journalists and photographers.
During the meeting, Zahidi said that the associations involved had appealed to the government to consider creating special allocations or funds to help industry workers affected by Covid-19 pandemic.
— Bernama
