Better deal for media urged
Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025
By: Mohd Nazlie Zainul Text Size: Fahmi (2nd from right) presenting the Kasih@Hawana contribution to Vicky Sylvester (3rd from right), a photographer with the Sabah Information Department. PENAMPANG: The Ministry of Communications has called on all media clubs across the country to collect detailed data on the salaries of media practitioners in their respective states. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the information is crucial before the matter can be brought forward for discussion in the near future. 'I have instructed the coalition of media clubs in each state to gather data so the ministry can have a clear picture of the actual situation, especially regarding salaries. 'We're aware that this salary issue is not limited to Sabah. That's why we need to understand the situation across the board,' he said. He said that media professionals include both full-time journalists and part-time contributors or stringers, and any review must take these categories into account. Fahmi was responding to questions on the low wages faced by several long-serving media practitioners in Sabah, many of whom reportedly still earn less than RM2,000 per month. He was speaking after presenting aid under the Kasih@Hawana Fund to Vicky Sylvester Matanjang, a photographer with the Sabah Information Department, who was seriously injured in a road accident in March. Vicky, who has served the department for 18 years since 2007, suffered fractures to six left ribs and his left arm, and now requires ongoing physiotherapy. Earlier, Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin also presented contributions to Hafizul Andie Zulkarnain, 35, a journalist with Sabah News, who recently underwent surgery following complications from a twisted intestine and a ruptured appendix. When asked if additional funding would be allocated for the Kasih@Hawana Fund this year, Fahmi said the ministry would first utilise the remaining funds from two previous Hawana programmes, amounting to RM1 million, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year. 'We've requested Bernama to explore mechanisms to raise more funds for media practitioners, but for now, we need to exhaust the current allocation,' he said. The Kasih@Hawana Fund, an initiative by the Ministry of Communications and managed by Bernama, was launched in conjunction with National Journalists Day 2023. It reflects the government's empathy and appreciation for the media's role in society. To date, 463 media practitioners nationwide have benefitted from the fund. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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