As we rejoiced the Golden
Jubilee Celebration of Malaysia Day tomorrow, it is good to reflect on our role
as the national news agency in spurring the information flow between Peninsular
Malaysia with Sabah and Sarawak.
When Bernama was formed
through an Act of Parliament in 1967, 10 years after the country’s
independence, its services to subscribers especially in Sabah and Sarawak was
vital to meet the spirit of national integration.
Spearheaded by the Father of
Independence – Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the idea of setting-up
Malaysia’s own news agency was crucial so as to relay government policies to
the whole nation. It was to be what Antara was to Indonesia.
Having our own news agency
was further justified to reduce dependency on the ‘Big Four” – United Press
International, Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse – which then
controlled over 80 per cent of global news flow.
The debate for a New World
Information and Communication Order (NWICO) was gaining momentum then over
media representations of the developing world, who sought for more equitable
and balanced news coverage.
After operations begun on
May 20,1968 from a now-demolished government bungalow, not far from Wisma
Bernama, the agency took steps to open offices
throughout the country in stages to fulfil its obligations.
“We opened in Sabah and
Sarawak in 1970, Jamal Ali and N.Gopalakrishnan were our first correspondents
respectively,” said former Editor-in-Chief Datuk Seri Azman Ujang today as he
recalled Bernama’s role in the two states on the eve of the landmark
celebration.
“Bernama played a pivotal
role in bridging the news vacuum between the two regions of Malaysia and for a
long time was the only means for Malaysian newspapers to source news in their
respective regions and a major source for RTM which controlled all radio and tv
stations then.
Only much later did the
major national newspapers station their own reporters there.
So Bernama’s contribution
towards national integration was immense. Things change with the advent of the
internet but I believe Bernama remains relevant by enhancing the value, quality
and delivery of its news services to another level,” said Datuk Seri Azman, who
hails from Sarawak.
As a reflection on the
importance of its role towards national integration, the Bernama board of
governors has always had representatives from Sabah and Sarawak newspapers to
voice out their needs and expectations. .
Bernama has been and will
continue to be the source of national news for
Sabah and Sarawak newspapers such news about the announcement of the
Bumiputera Economic Enpowerment Programme by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Tun Razak in Shah Alam yesterday.
Information Department
senior officer Resat Salleh, who was based in Sarawak when Bernama started
operation in the state, could still remember those early days.
“Bernama then worked closely
with Information Department. The National News Agency was always given priority
in covering official functions as part of Government official media's entity.
“If Bernama due to lack of
staff to cover official functions in the remote areas, press officers, who were
then acting as Government reporters, never fail to spare raw copies or even
transcribed texts of important speeches or press conference to Bernama.
“I still remember when I was
in Miri as press officer in 1976, Datuk Seri Azman, was a correspondent then
who used to collect news release from me.
During Bintulu booming days
as Oil & Gas Centre, Datuk Rejal Arbee used to travel with me. He was still
with Bernama then,” he said.
What about the present and
future? Will Bernama be 'needed' especially for Sarawak and Sabah papers that
do not have representatives in Semenanjung?
“Yes, Bernama will always be
relevant. Most papers from Borneo still subscribed to Bernama trustworthiness
in reporting news. Their confidence are very high towards Bernama,” he said.
Apart from Kuching, Bernama has
offices in Miri and Sibu in Sarawak as well as Kota Kinabalu and Tawau in
Sabah.
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