KUCHING: The Ministry of Communications has urged the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) to collaborate with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) to gather information regarding media practitioners who need assistance through the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA fund.
Its Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that managing this fund’s assistance ensures that affected media colleagues, whether they are unwell or have lost their jobs, receive immediate help.
“I have conveyed the view that, if possible, KDJA should assist Bernama as the responsible party managing the fund.
“Previously, during the peak of the HAWANA event, it was announced that nearly 500 journalists had been assisted through Bernama to obtain protection via PERKESO (Social Security Organisation) for the first year.
“We are examining what other efforts we can implement, especially to increase journalists’ income,” he told reporters after an exclusive dialogue and luncheon with the KDJA at The Reef restaurant here today.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) is still continuing efforts to register companies for the Progressive Wage Policy programme.
“Our ministry will liaise with KESUMA to identify if any media companies have registered for the progressive wage policy programme.
“I hope that if there are those involved, our ministry will assist in an appropriate manner to involve others who may not yet be involved in the programme,” he added.
He also mentioned that the mechanism for implementing progressive wages for the private sector involving media has been finalised with several companies already registered.
“The government has allocated RM50 million as an incentive for companies participating in this programme, and we expect that if 1,000 companies register, it will help up to one million workers in Malaysia’s labour market,” he said.
