After over three decades, Bernama s Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Economic News Service, Mikhail Raj Abdullah bade farewell today to the organisation, where he served entirely in the department.
"It has been a roller coaster ride, he said relating to the many opportunities and challenges faced by him from the time he was a rookie journalist and rose to one of the top position in the organisation in his career that spanned 33 years.
Mikhail said he had ample opportunities and gained vast experience ranging from his travels to Russia, when it was still a communist country and known as the Soviet Union, to interviewing King Mswati III of Swaziland.
"They say when you work so long in one place, you are married to the job. In my case it was literal, he quipped as he married Hafizah Kamaruddin, Editor of Bernama's Multimedia Desk.
They have three children.
Mikhail, who will continue to be in the industry with his programme, Biz Talk on Bernama News Channel (BNC), said the way forward for the news agency was to embrace audio visual in view of the digital era.
Chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang wished him happy retirement and thanked him for his service in Bernama, especially for his contribution in the economic service.
"He has served well and given his best to the organisation for the last 33 years. It will not stop here as he will host a business programme for BNC, he said, wishing him good health and best wishes.
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| Berita Bernama January 1984 |
"He was stern but meant well for the staff and had good leadership qualities, she said, adding that the "boss always kept us on our toes".
Bernama Singapore Correspondent Massita Ahmad described Mike, as he is fondly called, as "a writer's greatest nightmare but the best coach any journalist can have.
Even former employees of the business desk were grateful for his guidance.
Choong En Han, a former Bernama journalist, who is now employed with a foreign wire service had this to say: After all that has been said and written about, it's you that opened the doors for me back in 2010 when I was a low life intern to this industry.
The countless opportunities were the first and most treasured lessons I've gotten, and there is no way I can repay and thank you enough for those deeds, he said.
Umi Hani Sharani, who is now a Press Secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, also took the opportunity to share her working experience with Mikhail.
"He taught what is needed for a good story, to own up to my mistakes, and also importantly, what I will always remember is, " it is never about self recognition."
"And, it has definitely served me well, said Umi who was once a journalist in the Economic Service.
She wished him well for his next endeavour in television.
-- BERNAMA
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