KUCHING, The Kuching Division Journalists' Association (KDJA) has been asked to help the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) to identify media practitioners affected by health problems and job loss to receive assistance under the Kasih@HAWANA Fund. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said nearly 500 media practitioners have been assisted through the fund which was created in 2023 to assist journalists and media practitioners requiring help, irrespective of their current service status or retirement. 'If possible, I want the KDJA to help Bernama in managing donations from Tabung Kasih@Hawana fund to ensure that our media friends who are suffering from various issues, health problems or job loss, get immediate help,' he said after a meeting with KDJA members here today. Fahmi said his ministry was also looking into other methods to help journalists, especially in increasing their income. He said this includes helping those who work with private media companies to benefit from the progressive wage pol icy implemented by the government. 'The mechanism of this progressive wage policy is already there. The government allocated RM50 million as an incentive for participating companies. We expect it can help up to one million workers,' he said. Source : BERNAMA News Agency