Sunday 15 October 2017

Bernama Elected To International Islamic News Agency Executive Council

From Mohd Nasir Yusof

Bernama, the Malaysian National News Agency, has been unanimously elected to sit on the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) Executive Council at its 5th general assembly in Jeddah today.
The unanimous decision was made by 36 participating national news agencies, majority of whom said that Malaysia had achieved a developed status and had been an exemplary Muslim country.
"To us at Somalia National News Agency (SONNA). Malaysia is one great example of moderate Muslim nation where people of all races and religions live harmoniously.
"Now that Malaysia is regarded by many as a developed country, it certainly can contribute more through Bernama and lends its credence to strengthen IINA," said SONNA Director Abdullah Sheikh Abdurahman.
Another participant, Ebrima Sillah, who is the Director-General of Gambia Radio and Television Services, said Bernama had progressed and expanded its services so well that many countries were keen to learn from it.
"Gambia, which is going to host OIC meeting in 2019, for one, would love to learn from Bernama on its successes in organising major international events apart from its news gathering and dissemination," he told Bernama.
Both Abdullah and Ebrima said they were happy that Bernama was now on the Jeddah-based IINA Executive Council and that they had planned to visit Kuala Lumpur next year to learn first hand from and most probably sign cooperation agreements with Bernama.
Being a member of the IINA Executive Council would require Bernama, among others, to contribute ideas to promote IINA's role in serving news about Islam, lessen Islamic countries dependence on international wires and project real and peaceful image of Islam.
At the three-day meeting, Bernama was represented by Deputy Editor-in-Chief Datuk Mokhtar Hussain and Features and Special Functions Editor Mohamad Nasir Yusoff.
The meeting was chaired by Saudi Culture and Information Minister Dr Awwad bin Salleh Al-Awwad.
Other members of the executive council include news agencies of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Palestine.
-- BERNAMA

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