PUTRAJAYA, As of July 30, a total of 114 media practitioners facing hardships and requiring assistance have benefited from the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. He said the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), the agency responsible for managing the fund, has been asked to collaborate with media clubs nationwide to gather information about media practitioners who need assistance. 'This will enable us to assist more media friends in need,' he said in his speech at the Communications Ministry's monthly assembly here today. Also present were Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching and secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, as well as Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin. According to Fahmi, the government is also committed to safeguarding the welfare of media practitioners, including stringers and piecemeal workers. He added that the ministry, through Bernama, has initiated a scheme that will benefit 493 part-time media practitioners nationwide t hrough contributions to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso). On May 27, during the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2024 celebration, Fahmi announced that the ministry would cover PERKESO contributions for part-time media practitioners registered with various media organisations across the country. Source: BERNAMA News Agency