50% airfare discount an appreciation for media practitioners' dedication
KUALA LUMPUR: The 50 per cent discount on flight tickets to 57 ASEAN destinations for local media practitioners is a major recognition of the important role played by journalists and helps foster regional understanding within the media fraternity.
Media representatives from the Putrajaya Media Club (KMP), Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA), Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) and Mutiara Media Club described the initiative as the result of a strategic collaboration between AirAsia and the Ministry of Communications, reflecting support for the role of media practitioners in building an informed and competitive society.
KDJA president Ronnie Teo Teck Wei said the media in Sarawak, in particular, greatly appreciated AirAsia's recognition of their dedication and commitment to supporting media practitioners who help tell Malaysia's story.
'This initiative is in line with the broader goal of strengthening regional ties and promoting greater mobility in Southeast Asia by emphasising a shared vision of connectivity, cultural appreciation and media empowerment.
'On behalf of the Malaysian media community in general, and Sarawak in particular, my sincere thanks go to AirAsia and the Ministry of Communications for their unwavering support and generosity,' he told Bernama.
NSJA president Chai Chon Chin described the incentive as a meaningful gesture of appreciation for the efforts and sacrifices of media practitioners, particularly in large areas such as Sarawak, which face logistical and accessibility challenges, in line with Malaysia's current role as ASEAN chair.
'This initiative opens up space for cross-border media cooperation and emphasises the importance of media freedom and regional awareness in the national development agenda,' he added.
KMP president Tuan Buqhairah Tuan Muhamad Adnan said the facility not only benefited media personnel but also provided them with an opportunity to take time off and travel after working hard to fulfil their duties.
'KMP greatly appreciates this initiative and hopes to see more such collaborations in the future. It is a form of recognition for the efforts and sacrifices of journalists who are always on the front lines delivering accurate information to the people,' said the Sinar Harian journalist.
Bernama TV journalist Nazahiyah Mohd Hadzir described the offer as a meaningful gesture that helped relieve the exhaustion faced by media practitioners who were constantly on standby to deliver news to the public.
'This discount means a lot. It allows media personnel the chance to visit and explore ASEAN countries,' she said, expressing her desire to travel to Vietnam.
Utusan Malaysia photographer Ahmad Faiz Alif Ahmad said the initiative was particularly meaningful for media personnel who rarely had the chance to take a break due to work commitments.
Echoing the same sentiment, Penang Mutiara Media Club president Mohd Iskandar Othman said the initiative also recognised the dedication of media practitioners in contributing to the country's media ecosystem.
'This initiative also allows journalists to explore interesting destinations in the region, especially since Penang now offers direct flights to six ASEAN countries, namely Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia,' he said.
Earlier, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced a special initiative for local media practitioners holding the Department of Information (JaPen) media accreditation card during the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebration at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) here today.
Booking will remain open until Dec 31, 2025, while the travel period will run from April to September 2026. Further information, including the booking mechanism, will be announced by JaPen soon.
The booking window is open until Dec 31, 2025, for travel between April and September 2026. Further information, including the booking mechanism, will be released by JaPen soon.
Themed 'Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics', the event was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by about 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and abroad.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
12 named as founding board members of media council
KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve individuals have been named as the founding board members of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC). Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the members consist of representatives from four different categories of the media industry. The categories are media companies, media associations, media professionals and independent media practitioners, as well as non-media practitioners. 'After 50 years, we have finally passed the law in Parliament,' he said in his speech at the National Journalists Day (Hawana) 2025 celebration here yesterday. The board members are MalaysiaKini co-founder and MMC pro-tem committee chairman Premesh Chandran, National Union of Journalists Malaysia general secretary Teh Athira Yusof, Astro Awani chief editor Ashwad Ismail and Gerakan Media Merdeka president Radzi Razak. Also appointed are Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo general manager Wong Yang Yong, Daily Express chief editor Datuk Sardahthisa James, Journalists Association of Kuching Division Sarawak president Ronnie Teo Teck Wei and Malaysian Tamil Media Organisation president Muthameez Manan. Other members of the MCC governing body are academics Mohd Azmyl Md Yusof, Gayathri S. Venkiteswaran, Celine Lim and Terence Ooi. The Malaysian Media Council Bill 2024, which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 26, will allow self-regulation within the local media industry. On Friday, Fahmi signed the gazettement of MMC and it officially took effect from yesterday in conjunction with Hawana 2025 celebration. Fahmi also announced the extension of social security protection to part-time and freelance journalists, or stringers. He said this was in collaboration with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme. 'Last year, a total of 531 stringers benefited from the scheme. 'Similar benefits would be extended this year with an allocation of RM37,170,' he added. He also announced that protection of media stringers would also be expanded under the Employees Provident Fund's i-Saraan scheme. He also announced that over 12,000 journalists would be able to enjoy one-off 50% discounts on AirAsia flights to over 50 destinations in Asean, in conjunction with Malaysia's chairmanship. Fahmi also revealed that AirAsia was keen to name one of its airplanes after a journalist with special livery to honour media practitioners.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Our man in DC
FOR several weeks Malaysian diplomats were buzzing with speculation about who would be appointed the new ambassador to the United States. There was a lot of pure happiness when their former boss, Tan Sri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, was named, receiving his credentials from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, early this month. The joy at the appointment of this warm, approachable, and seasoned diplomat is understandable. Washington DC is one of the few postings with a history of politically appointed ambassadors. But this time one of their own gets to serve the nation. 'Shahrul Ikram was a very likable boss and accessible to his officers. Always relaxed, and he has a pleasant and easy going demeanour that always puts people at ease,' said one officer. Shahrul Ikram joined the diplomatic service in 1988 and, after postings in several countries and a period as Malaysia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, he left on a high note as Wisma Putra's secretary-general in 2022. A stint in the US capital is seen as a prestigious assignment because it is the seat of a superpower. It is an important post for many countries, most of which will send their senior diplomats. As Shahrul Ikram, 64, prepares to leave for his posting next month, he is well aware of the challenges ahead. 'The challenge will be to manage expectations. There is that expectation of the country because what has been highlighted in terms of Malaysia-US relations is only tariffs and more tariffs. 'Our relations with the US are not defined by one issue. If you look at the bilateral ties, they are long-standing, in existence for more than six decades. 'Apart from trade and investment, we have ties in defence, culture, education, and others. 'It is a big challenge for me from that perspective to manage the expectations of the government and expectations of the people. 'There is this expectation that if they send someone with 35 years of experience, this guy can resolve the issue of tariffs, for example,' he told this columnist. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a Facebook posting after receiving Shahrul Ikram in Putrajaya last week, said he has instructed the envoy to further strengthen bilateral ties apart from intensifying efforts to attract high quality and high impact foreign investments. 'I feel humbled by the trust that has been put on my shoulders by the King, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. 'I am a pensioner who has been pulled out of retirement and given such an important job. I am touched,' Shahrul Ikram said, admitting he had been reluctant to accept the job at first due to several personal issues, but those have now been resolved. An ambassador's role in general is to promote and protect the country's interests, including the welfare of Malaysian citizens abroad. The head of mission must also manage bilateral relations as the bridge between the two countries by having good networking with stakeholders. 'I am a pensioner who has been pulled out of retirement and given such an important job. I am touched,' says Shahrul Ikram. -- Photo from Wisma Putra One of Shahrul Ikram's immediate tasks is to facilitate communications between Putrajaya and Washington. In layman's terms he is the government's messenger with Malaysia's interests always at the back of his mind. As the ambassador, he will meet President Donald Trump to present his credentials. But what follows? How do you keep the lines of communication open? The new ambassador will need to establish relationships with White House staff, the legislative branches of the US government (Congress and the Senate) and, of course, the State Department. 'This is one of the things I have to do so that they can understand our position better. At the same time I will also have to make the position of the American government clear to ours,' Shahrul Ikram said. There have been high level contacts between the two countries since Trump took over. An Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry delegation will travel to Washington DC next week to resume negotiations over tariffs imposed on Malaysian goods as a follow up to a similar trip in April. Anwar met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore recently to discuss enhancing defence and maritime cooperation. In April Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during which the two men spoke about various issues, including suitable dates for an Asean-US special summit. Anwar personally wrote to Trump seeking his support for the special summit. Malaysia is the Asean Chair this year and has received support from the rest of Asean for the summit to be held. Shahrul Ikram said he will try his best to make the summit happen. 'I am quite confident it can happen but scheduling is another issue. To get the 10 leaders of Asean and availability of President Trump, all parties involved need to work it out,' he said. We understand that to date there has been no confirmation from the US about this summit. There are also concerns that the current tensions between the US and China are leading to Asean countries realigning themselves with China. However, American ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan this week said the United States sees Malaysia as a key partner even as South-East Asia navigates growing engagement with China. He said Washington does not see growing ties with China as a threat to its own relationships in the region, and that South-East Asian countries should not be forced to choose sides. The region has had to do its fair share of balancing between the competing interests of the superpowers. Malaysia has maintained a consistent stand that we do not want to be a pawn in the superpowers' rivalry while managing the complexity of regional dynamics. For example, the South China Sea is seeing an increasing number of navigation exercises by certain countries, sparking concerns of a potential armed conflict in the area, which is claimed by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Shahrul Ikram has his work cut out for him in Washington. Bilateral relations are not all about trade and it's only when we don't have serious political and security issues in the way that countries can talk about trade and investment. When political relations are strained, trade and investment will be affected, although so much in our world today is interrelated and cannot be viewed in isolated terms. 'I have taken up the job so I have to give it my best. I am excited now, and I take it as a service to the nation. 'This is out of sincerity, I am doing this for Malaysia,' said Shahrul Ikram.
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Malaysia, China deepen high-tech collab under Belt and Road framework
(From left) Chiew, Chang and Lee seen during the bilateral meeting, held in Chengdu. MIRI (June 15): Malaysia and China have reaffirmed their growing partnership in science, technology and innovation (STI), following a high-level bilateral meeting between the two countries' respective ministries of science and technology. According to Miri MP Chiew Choon Man, who was part of the Malaysian delegation at the meeting, the discussions meant to deepen collaboration under the 'Belt and Road Initiative', with both countries expressing strong commitment to joint efforts in high-tech industries. 'Our shared efforts in advancing science and technology are a testament to the long-standing friendship between Malaysia and China. 'This meeting has been highly fruitful and a step forward in cementing long-term strategic partnerships that benefit both our nations,' said the parliamentarian in a press statement issued yesterday, in connection with the 'Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange' in Chengdu, China. Also attending the recent session were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister of Malaysia Chang Lih Kang and former deputy minister of health, Datuk Dr Lee Boon Chye. The meeting built on the momentum of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Chinese Premier Li Qiang last year. The MoU identified six priority sectors for cooperation: artificial intelligence (AI), space technology, blockchain, advanced materials, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Since the inception of STI cooperation in 2013, both countries have experienced a steady expansion of collaborative programmes. To date, over 300 joint research project proposals have been submitted under the current framework, reflecting robust enthusiasm among researchers and institutions in both nations. Both governments also reiterated support for joint laboratory programmes, talent exchanges, and people-to-people initiatives. A notable development is the 'Malaysia-China Joint Laboratory Programme', which involves leading academic institutions from both countries. These platforms are expected to accelerate technology transfer, innovation, and commercialisation of scientific breakthroughs. China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner since 2009, contributing 16.8 per cent of total trade. With this growing STI collaboration, both countries are now aligning efforts in critical sectors including digital economy, green energy, vaccine development, and space technology – all seen as key drivers for Malaysia's long-term economic transformation. Belt and Road Chiew Choon Man China innovation Science STI technology
