Getting excited over turtle cause...

What name would you give to a turtle that has been proposed to Bernama for adoption?

When the matter came up during yesterday's weekly coordination meeting, someone suggested that it should just be named as 'Bernama'.

The question was raised again on the Bernama group WhatsApp today by Deputy Editor-in-Chief (International News Service) Ahmad Zukiman Zain with the intention of getting everyone’s interest towards the noble cause.

General News Service (GNS) Executive Editor Roslan Ariffin had told the meeting that the turtle adoption idea came up when an Editorial team recently visited the Sea Turtle Research Unit of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) or SEATRU in Pulau Redang.

The turtles could be adopted for RM100 each, with the sponsors given a certificate of adoption and would receive information of the turtle wherever it is to be tracked by the unit.

“The name Kartini was spontaneously suggested when we were shown a turtle but we need to think of a name if we were to adopt a turtle,” he said.

Thus, the question cropped up this morning, eliciting some initial suggestions like: BERNAMA, Flash, Scoot, Scoopy (to reflect on Bernama many scoop stories), Tuah and Sayang.

Other names came up later, even closer to identify with newsroom practices – Edit, Spike and Sub as suggested by Economic Desk Editor Siti Hawa Othman.

“No stopping of going for more than a turtle...it's RM100 a turtle,” said Zukiman.

“BNC will adopt Slug, Sot, Wipe,” quipped Head of Bernama News Channel news and programme Letfee Ahmad.

Even Editor-in-Chief Datuk Zakaria Abdul Wahab joined in the excitement when he suggested the name “Transmitter”.

Multimedia Desk senior editor Hafizah Kamaruddin, who was in  the Bernama Editorial team  that visited the centre, then explained:

“We have informed UMT our first turtle is named Bernama and tomorrow they will present the adoption certificate on that name .. sorry guys.. can still raise fund.. RM100 per turtle. Share RM10 (each).

“Utk 10 org  can adopt a turtle and you can follow your turtle via internet.. and name it. And pray it does not land in Taiwan or Hong Kong,” she said and suggested that Corporate Communications initiate a ‘Tabung Penyu’.

When Corporate Communications Manager Zarina Rozali said it could be done, many immediately agreed to contribute.

Even Bernama correspondent in Singapore Massita Ahmad agreed to a suggestion by International News Service (PBA) colleague Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz that PBA adopt a turtle on its own.

"The PBA family can give the name, am open for any name," said Massita.  

A high-level UMT delegation was expected to visit Wisma Bernama tomorrow.