Azman and Yong hail appointments...

The Bernama Board has made the right decision to carry out internal promotion for the post of General Manager, said retired general manager Datuk Seri Azman Ujang

"This is a big boost and a significant move for staff morale. At the same time I would like to suggest a change of name in the designation of General Manager to Chief Executive Officer.

"The term GM that was used since Bernama was established in 1968 is no longer relevant in this day and age.

"May I congratulate Datuk Zulkefli Salleh, Datuk Zakaria Wahab, Mokhtar Hussain and Mikhail Raj Abdullah on their well-deserved promotions," he said.

The board at its meeting yesterday appointed  58 year-old Zulkefli,  who is Bernama editor-in-chief   as general manager to fill the post vacated by Datuk Yong Soo Heong who retired on Oct 28.

Zakaria, 57,  deputy editor-in-chief of Domestic News Service, was named as editor-in-chief.

FotoArkib

Mokhtar, 53,  the Deputy editor-in-chief of Audio Visual Service was promoted to deputy editor-in-chief of Domestic News Service, replacing Zakaria while acting deputy editor-in-chief of Economic Service, Mikhail Raj, 57, was confirmed to the post.

“I’m confident they, alongwith another Deputy Editor-in-Chief of International News Service Ahmad Zukiman Zain, as a team can take Bernama to greater heights,” said Azman.

Yong also hailed the appointments, saying they were a step in the right direction.

"Only people who have been long enough in Bernama know how to steer Bernama in the right direction efficiently without any tinge of unpleasantness.

"Bernama is a knowledge organisation premised on the skills of its journalists, not a factory of human robots.

"To those who have been appointed to positions of heavy responsibility, I believe that being upright and fair, and possessing a fervent desire for Bernama to excel even further are crucial prerequisites," said Yong, who like Azman had rose from the ranks to lead the organisation.