Bridging regions through news ...

As we rejoiced the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Malaysia Day tomorrow, it is good to reflect on our role as the national news agency in spurring the information flow between Peninsular Malaysia with Sabah and Sarawak.

When Bernama was formed through an Act of Parliament in 1967, 10 years after the country’s independence, its services to subscribers especially in Sabah and Sarawak was vital to meet the spirit of national integration.

Spearheaded by the Father of Independence – Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the idea of setting-up Malaysia’s own news agency was crucial so as to relay government policies to the whole nation. It was to be what Antara was to Indonesia.

Having our own news agency was further justified to reduce dependency on the ‘Big Four” – United Press International, Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse – which then controlled over 80 per cent of global news flow.

The debate for a New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) was gaining momentum then over media representations of the developing world, who sought for more equitable and balanced news coverage.

After operations begun on May 20,1968 from a now-demolished government bungalow, not far from Wisma Bernama, the agency took steps to open offices  throughout the country in stages to fulfil its obligations.

“We opened in Sabah and Sarawak in 1970, Jamal Ali and N.Gopalakrishnan were our first correspondents respectively,” said former Editor-in-Chief Datuk Seri Azman Ujang today as he recalled Bernama’s role in the two states on the eve of the landmark celebration.

“Bernama played a pivotal role in bridging the news vacuum between the two regions of Malaysia and for a long time was the only means for Malaysian newspapers to source news in their respective regions and a major source for RTM which controlled all radio and tv stations then.

Only much later did the major national newspapers station their own reporters there.

So Bernama’s contribution towards national integration was immense. Things change with the advent of the internet but I believe Bernama remains relevant by enhancing the value, quality and delivery of its news services to another level,” said Datuk Seri Azman, who hails from Sarawak.

As a reflection on the importance of its role towards national integration, the Bernama board of governors has always had representatives from Sabah and Sarawak newspapers to voice out their needs and expectations. .

Bernama has been and will continue to be the source of national news for  Sabah and Sarawak newspapers such news about  the announcement  of  the Bumiputera Economic Enpowerment Programme by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Shah Alam yesterday.

Information Department senior officer Resat Salleh, who was based in Sarawak when Bernama started operation in the state, could still remember those early days.

“Bernama then worked closely with Information Department. The National News Agency was always given priority in covering official functions as part of Government official media's entity.

“If Bernama due to lack of staff to cover official functions in the remote areas, press officers, who were then acting as Government reporters, never fail to spare raw copies or even transcribed texts of important speeches or press conference to Bernama.

“I still remember when I was in Miri as press officer in 1976, Datuk Seri Azman, was a correspondent then who used to collect news release from me.

During Bintulu booming days as Oil & Gas Centre, Datuk Rejal Arbee used to travel with me. He was still with Bernama then,” he said.

What about the present and future? Will Bernama be 'needed' especially for Sarawak and Sabah papers that do not have representatives in Semenanjung?

“Yes, Bernama will always be relevant. Most papers from Borneo still subscribed to Bernama trustworthiness in reporting news. Their confidence are very high towards Bernama,” he said.

Apart from Kuching, Bernama has offices in Miri and Sibu in Sarawak as well as Kota Kinabalu and Tawau in Sabah.

A great relief for Minggu....

Our correspondent in Bangkok, Minggu Simon Lhasa can now breathe a sigh of relief  after getting  his Press Identification Card and work permit.

“So now I am officially a correspondent in Thailand,” he said.

He had earlier promised that once he gets the work permit and media pass,  he would be able to file at least 50 stories a month  -- with the help of our Bangkok staff, Piyarat, of course!

“I think it should not be a problem …we have enough connection through Piyarat. The only thing is we try not to use stories from newspapers,  instead we either go for press conference or process statements… more than half of stories here are PC stories rather than sourced from newspaper,” he said.

Being a non-Thai speaking  foreigner, Minggu has to seek the help of Piyarat to translate the many press statements in Thai and the occasional interviews with contacts.

“I feel at home here because everybody is so nice … only thing is that most of the info are in Thai from the bills and so on.. I think they are just aware of the importance of English and there are a lot of vacancies for English teachers,” said Minggu who has been there since July.

The 45 year-old bachelor has travelled in all kinds of transportation mode – “from boats on the Chao Phraya river,  taxi, bus, MRT, motorcycle taxi, tuk tuk to tumpang orang” since living in Bangkok.

“Most of the time, guna motosikal teksi … cost 25 baht ke atas dan juga MRT serta BTS, kalau pakai teksi mesti terperangkap .. I learn my lesson from (covering Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) incident recently,” he said.

The motorcycle taxi is a thrill, he said.

“Ia motosikal biasa yang dijadikan teksi angkut penumpang, tak payah pakai helmet cuma dia yang depan aje pakai helmet …mereka tunggang motosikal pakai vest warna oren.”

“kalau tak biasa mesti rasa takut,  tapi  badan boleh kurang berat sikit … ha ha ha,” kata Minggu yang menganggarkan beratnya juga berkurangan disebabkan makanan kurang bersantan di sana.

He said it was also fun using  boats, which he does occasionally when covering international events held at river-front hotels.

“Kalau you tinggal di one of the hotels on riverbank you can travel for free… each hotels have their own boat to transport people to and from hotel across the river,” he said.

Asked to list five 'exciting' things or experience which he had  come across since his transfer to Bangkok, Minggu said:

1. pengalaman baru dan suasana baru.

2. people are friendly and willing to help

3. naik pelbagai kenderaan awam yang ada .. merasai budaya baru

4. stuck in a jam pukul dua pagi hujan lebat balik dari Shangri-La Hotel ketika cover (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin).dan pemandu tuk-tuk pura-pura tak tahu jalan sebab nak minta duit lebih

5. Tengok gadis-gadis yang cantik (Yep there are a lot of girls and many with models look, it is difficult to be tied up to one. I may regret it if get tied up… ha ha ha. after all Bangkok population and size is 10 times bigger than KL), and he added another point.

6. Salah faham oleh pemandu teksi, nak pergi hotel dia bawa ke rumah nakal yang antara terbesar di kota Bangkok, Amsterdam namanya

Minggu was quick to say that he did not spend time at the place, “... tapi very tempting ha ha ha ha now at least, I know where to bring budak-budak KL yang nakal yang lawat sini”.

What about the five things he miss most about KL?

1. the language .. bahasa.. sini kena cakap Inggeris,  bila org cakap Thai dengar sajalah.

 2. Makanan yang menggemukkan sampai tiga empat bulan terpaksa cari seluar lebih besar

 3. trafik jem kurang

 4. Orang-orang Bernama Hq especially di PBE

  5. naik tangga sebab sekarang cuma naik lift walaupun tinggal tingkat 23 dulu tingkat empat ...itulah...oh yang akhir ialah gadis-gadis KL  yang unik ha ha ha.

Born in Sibu, Minggu joined Bernama 18 years ago as a journalist after a brief spell working at a commodity trading firm.

“Tak tahan sebab kena kerja waktu malam sampai pagi,” said Minggu who studied law at University Malaya.  

‘1 Januari 1995 masuk Bernama secara rasmi… tapi training dengan (Datuk) Jaafar Hussin sekitar September atau Oktober 1994.

Ada dua puluh lebih (yang masuk bersama saya)… masa itu ramai interview, tiga hari kalau tak silap,” katanya.

Asked about his aspirations as correspondent in Bangkok, he said: “Do my best. Absorb the experience as much as I can. Life is short so enjoy whatever happens and whatever comes .. tomorrow is still there unless GOD wants us to retire,” he said.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Meningkatkan penguasaan bahasa...

Bagi meningkatkan kemahiran para petugas editorial, kursus seperti Penulisan Bahasa Malaysia diadakan menerusi program Bernama School of Journalism. Kursus dua hari  yang berakhir hari ini dikendalikan  oleh Puan Rohana Mustaffa, Editor Penyuntingan Bahasa Malaysia Perkhidmatan Berita Dalam Negeri (PBDN).

Kursus itu bukan sahaja disertai para petugas Jabatan Pengarang tetapi juga dari Bernama Radio24, BernamaTV serta Jabatan Pemasaran.

Azeman buat liputan Haji...

  Ketua Biro Pulau Pinang, Azeman Ariffin kini berada di Tanah Suci untuk membuat liputan Haji. Beliau mula melaporkan dari Madinah sejak  5 September mengenai langkah Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) memperkenalkan sistem "City Check-In" di bandaraya itu mulai tahun ini bagi mempermudahkan jemaah haji Malaysia berlepas pulang ke tanah air selepas menunaikan ibadah haji.

  Seramai 22,320 jemaah haji Malaysia akan menunaikan rukun Islam kelima  tahun ini,  berkurangan 20 peratus berbanding tahun lepas.

  Pengurangan kuota oleh kerajaan Arab Saudi untuk seluruh negara di dunia adalah disebabkan pelaksanaan kerja menaik taraf kawasan Masjidil Haram di Makkah.

  Saudara Azeman melaporkan mengenai ketibaan 450 orang dalam rombongan pertama Jemaah Haji Malaysia yang selamat tiba  di lapangan terbang antarabangsa Putera Mohamed Abdul Aziz di Madinah  kira-kira pukul 7 pagi waktu tempatan (12 tengah hari waktu Malaysia) pada 7 September. Sebanyak 65 penerbangan dari Malaysia disediakan untuk membawa Jemaah Haji.

  Ratusan ribu umat Islam kini membanjiri kota Madinah sebagai tempat persinggahan awal sebelum ke Makkah untuk menunaikan ibadah haji dan umrah musim ini.
 Jemaah yang tiba awal itu adalah mereka yang mengerjakan Haji Tamattuk iaitu menunaikan umrah terlebih dahulu dalam musim haji sebelum mengerjakan ibadah haji pada bulan hadapan.

  Hari wukuf di Arafah dijadual pada 14 Oktober iaitu hari bermulanya kerja ibadah rukun Islam yang kelima itu.

  Menurut Azeman, Masjid Nabawi, iaitu masjid terletaknya makam Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. telah mula dipenuhi umat Islam dari seluruh pelusuk dunia.

Masjid terbesar di kota suci Madinah itu mampu menampung hampir sejuta jemaah pada satu-satu waktu solat.

  “Setiap kumpulan jemaah haji Malaysia akan berada di kota Madinah selama lapan hari sama ada sebelum bertolak ke Makkah ataupun selepas menunaikan haji mengikut giliran masing-masing yang ditetapkan oleh Tabung Haji,” menurut Azeman dalam laporannya.

  Tinjauannya mendapati  para peniaga di Madinah teruja dengan kehadiran jemaah haji Malaysia dan sering melaungkan kata-kata "Malaysia Bagus, Malaysia Boleh" untuk menarik perhatian jemaah.

  Kebanyakan peniaga boleh bertutur bahasa Melayu yang mudah dan menawarkan harga dengan menyebut angka dalam bahasa Melayu serta menarik perhatian pelanggan dengan berkata "jualan murah, harga rendah untuk rakyat Malaysia".

Pengalaman berharga di Mesir ...

Wartawan Bernama Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil dan jurukamera Zulkarnain Kamaruddin menyertai delegasi Kementerian Pendidikan yang meninjau keadaan di Mesir berikutan pergolakan di negara itu.  Pengalaman berada di negara itu  dari 24 hingga 31 Ogos lepas banyak menguji ketabahan mereka untuk melaporkan bukan sahaja bagi Bernama wires tetapi juga Bernama TV. Inilah catatan Nik Nurfaqih:

"Sebelum bertolak banyak persediaan yang saya buat terlebih dahulu. Walaupun masa singkat tetapi sekurang-kurangnya perlu tahu sedikit sebanyak  mengenai sejarah Mesir serta kronologi berkaitan insiden berdarah di sana yang mengorbankan ribuan rakyat terutama melibatkan peristiwa sejak penggulingan Hosni Mubarak. Selain sejarah, perlu mendapatkan maklumat mengenai bandaraya Kaherah dan statistik rakyat Malaysia di  sana dan lain-lain lagi.

Disebabkan masalah teknikal, saya terbang ke sana sehari lewat daripada delegasi kementerian yang diketuai Menteri Pendidikan kedua Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh dan juga jurukamera, Encik Zulkarnain Kamaruddin. Hanya wartawan BERNAMA yang mengikuti delegasi. Mujur saya dapat siapkan berita sebaik tiba di Kaherah. Sepanjang kira-kira seminggu di Mesir, kami juga melawat Mansura, Iskandariah, Zagazig dan Tanta.

Untuk ke satu-satu tempat mengambil masa hampir tiga jam. Dengan jalan yang tak ada sistem dan kurang sempurna, memang pening sepanjang perjalanan.

Gambar dan berita pula perlu dihantar mengikut masa di Malaysia sebelum pukul 7 malam agar sekurang-kurangnya berita boleh digunakan media lain. Ini kadang-kadang menjadi halangan kerana waktu di Mesir lewat enam jam, ditambah pula waktu perintah berkurung pukul 9 malam setiap hari, masalah ketiadaan internet dan juga jadual ketat. Namun Alhamdulillah semua dapat disempurnakan, baik menghantar berita untuk wires mahupun BernamaTV.

Keadaan di sana pula tidak seperti dijangkakan. Kehidupan masyarakat berjalan seperti biasa. Pelajar pergi ke sekolah, ahli perniagaan membuka kedai, trafik sesak seperti biasa. Tidak seperti digambarkan di media-media lain. Tiada ancaman di mana-mana tempat. Cuma ada kelihatan askar-askar dengan kereta kebalnya dan juga sniper di atas bumbung bangunan. Tetapi ini pun tidak di semua tempat.

Secara keseluruhannya, keadaan boleh dikatakan selamat untuk para pelajar Malaysia  dan juga pelancong, jika mereka mengikut arahan dan tidak melibatkan diri dengan demonstrasi.

Saya dan jurukamera pulang ke Malaysia pada hari Jumaat dengan penerbangan pukul 11.30 malam.  Namun kami berdua terpaksa bergerak sebelum pukul 3 petang ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kaherah kerana dijadualkan ada demonstasi besar-besaran yang digelar rakyat 'Jumaat Taufan'. Alhamdulillah walaupun terpaksa menghabiskan masa hampir 10 jam di lapangan terbang dan 13 jam di dalam kapal terbang, kami selamat tiba di KLIA. Delegasi KPM bagaimanapun pulang lebih awal pada Khamis, kerana khuatir demonstrasi membahayakan nyawa. Inilah kali kedua saya ke negara krisis selepas Palestin pada Disember tahun lepas."

Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil

Bernama operations impress visiting Bhutanese…

The operations of the Malaysian National New Agency (Bernama), comprising print, radio and television services under one roof, have impressed a delegation of four Bhutanese visitors at Wisma Bernama today.

The group included a former journalist from the Kuensel newspaper, Tshering Pamo, who said she had learned a lot from her visit to Bernama.

She described Bernama as “very modern”.

"It has been a very enlightening experience for us in the field of media and public relations.

"Personally I have never seen a television and a radio station all under one roof but, after visiting Bernama, I learned about how television and radio productions are being done," she said.

Pamo is working as a media and communication officer at Druk Green Power Corporation Limited in Bhutan's capital city of Thimphu.

Known as "Land of the Thunder Dragon", the kingdom nestles in the Himalayas between India and China with a population of 700,000.

The four  Bhutanese  are visiting Malaysia from September 1 to 13 to learn from the country’s  experience in public and media relations.

During the visit to Bernama, they were accompanied by four officers from Malaysia's Department of Information who were being promoted to become public relations officers at various departments and ministries.

The delegation was briefed on Bernama by the agency's Deputy Editor-in-Chief (International News Services) Ahmad Zukiman Zain.  

 -- BERNAMA

Majlis raya melabuh tirai...

Dengan Syawal menghampiri penghujungnya, majlis ‘rumah terbuka’ pelbagai bahagian dan jabatan di Bernama melabuh tirai dengan kemeriahan majlis anjuran Jabatan Pengarang hari ini.

Pengerusi jawatankuasa majlis Hajah Rohana Mustaffa ternyata gembira dengan sambutan terhadap ‘rumah terbuka’ itu yang diadakan dari 3.30 petang hingga 5.30 petang di tingkat 9, Wisma Bernama.

Kali ini tema coklat dipilih berdasarkan persetujuan petugas editorial.

“Inilah majlis Hari Raya yang paling besar pernah dianjurkan oleh Jabatan Pengarang…tempat yang kita pilih ini juga selesa kerana ia luas,” kata editor penyuntingan Bahasa Malaysia Perkhidmatan Berita Dalam Negeri (PBDN) itu..

“Selalunya kita buat secara ‘potluck’ tapi kali ini kita tempah ‘catering’ supaya masing-masing tidak penat memasak dan boleh ‘enjoy’,” katanya.

Walaupun anggaran kehadiran majlis itu seramai 300 orang namun bilangan sebenar yang datang mungkin lebih.

“300 bunga telur yang disediakan habis diberi,” kata seorang anggota jawatankuasa majlis.

Hajah Rohana berkata sumbangan yang banyak diterima daripada petugas Editorial membolehkan pelbagai makanan disediakan.

Antaranya nasi tomato, ayam golek, rendang, lemang, roti jala berkuah durian dan kari, pasembor, lontong, aiskrim dan kek.

Bagi memeriahkan suasana, hadiah pakaian terbaik lelaki dan wanita untuk petugas editorial dan bukan editorial diadakan.

Sebagai nostalgia, ada yang membawa seterika lama, kukus kelapa, kain batik dan teleprinter untuk dipamerkan.

Hajah Rohana berkata walaupun persediaan rapi perlu dibuat, namun ia tidak memenatkan kerana mendapat kerjasama semua pihak.

“Kita adakan tiga kali mesyuarat dan kerja menghias tempat ini dilakukan sehingga 7.30 malam tadi manakala makanan dibawa hari ini,” katanya.

Selain warga Bernama merakam foto sebagai kenangan, seorang jejaka kelihatan sibuk mengambil gambar sepanjang  majlis diadakan.

Muhammad Azeem Sarif, 20, pelajar Diploma Teknologi Fotografi Universiti Selangor (Unisel), baru memulakan latihan amali di Bernama minggu ini.

Latihan amali selama tiga bulan itu adalah sebahagian daripada pengajian selama tiga tahun untuk diploma berkenaan.

“Saya rasa bertuah dapat bersama-sama meraikan majlis ini,” kata pemuda dari Hulu Langat itu.

Pengurus Besar Datuk Yong Soo Heong mengucapkan tahniah kepada Jabatan Pengarang kerana dapat menganjurkan Majlis Hari Raya itu dengan amat teratur.

“This is the semangat – we play hard and work hard. Dress code theme also well-thought of. An enjoyable occasion to rejoice about.”

Bernama honoured at China's expo...

Good news from China! Bernama has been honoured with the Outstanding Media Award during an award ceremony to mark the 10^th anniversary of the China-Asean Expo (Caexpo) in Nanning.

Held at the Nanning Television Station, the ceremony recognised contributions made by outstanding individuals and organisations from participating countries of the annual expo.

Bernama was represented by BernamaTV Business Journalist Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz who received the award.

She is there to cover Caexpo which runs from Sept 3 to 6.

A total of 66 press outfits were honoured with the award, including 56 rewarded with the Outstanding Journalist Award.

Other Malaysian media which were also honoured with the award were Malaysian television station TV3, Chinese dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily.

Founded a decade ago, the annual Caexpo served as  a platform to enhance ties between the two sides.

Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed says the 10th China-Asean Expo (Caexpo) 2013 serves as a platform to popularise Malaysian products in China.

Several Malaysian companies have succeeded in penetrating the China market particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Being the world's second biggest market, the ministry and the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) have brought in SMEs through Caexpo to make inroads in China and establish themselves.

The companies have grown from small entities to big companies with turnover reaching millions of ringgit.

Among the companies are Julie's biscuits and chocolate from Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd which export 50 containers a month to China while Ipoh white coffee has also popularised its name in China through Caexpo.

Datuk Seri Mustapa said some companies started participating in Caexpo since 2004 and with their strong position now, it was easier for them to invest in China.

According to projections, China will overtake the United States as the world's biggest economy in the next 15 years.

A total of 138 Malaysian companies are participating in this year's Caexpo.

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