Farewell for Alan Ting ...

Journalist Alan Ting was surprised when colleagues at the Features and Special Issues Desk held a farewell party for him as he set his sight on Putrajaya.

“I didn’t expect this because I wanted to keep it low-key,” he said after deputy editor Harlina Samson requested him to speak at the morning get-together on the sixth floor of Wisma Bernama.

Alan is taking up the offer to be press secretary to the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) senior vice-president.

A Sarawakian himself, 40 year-old Alan would likely need to accompany the minister when he visits his parliamentary constituency of Betong.

Alan joined Bernama in 2000 before “being in and out” of the agency,  the last being on secondment to the Prime Minister’s department.

“Sometimes you have to make certain decisions in life but I hope we remain as friends,” he said of his decision to take up the offer.

In her opening remarks, Harlina hoped Alan would be successful in his new capacity.

“Hopefully, we’ll get more stories about the ministry and the minister,” she said.

Harlina said the event was also being held to usher in the month of Ramadan.