Three veteran journalists in Perak received assistance from the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative in conjunction with the 2023 National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) celebration aimed at supporting media practitioners and former media personnel in need.
They are former freelance reporter Ou So Ha @ Ou Kok Meng, 74, part-time Tamil newspaper reporter Malar V. Maniam, 76, and Independent.my news portal editor Haron Shafei, 65.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented the aid to them in conjunction with the opening of HAWANA 2023 here, today.
Ou, who is now in poor health, has written for several Chinese-language newspapers, including China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau, while Maniam, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, has worked for Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban.
Meanwhile, Haron, who used to be a journalist for Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and the Bintang Timur tabloid, is now a freelance writer for Independent.my.
Haron, when met by Bernama, said that the assistance received through the fund today would help him to some extent, as he currently had no fixed income.
"This (aid) is a noble effort and needs to be continued in the future," said the journalist who has been involved in the field since 1978.
Tabung Kasih@Hawana is an initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD), implemented through the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), as a continuous effort to help the media community who are facing hardship.
Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil had previously presented aid to two recipients, namely former Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd journalist Muhammad Basir Abu Bakar, who is suffering from heart disease, and veteran journalist Mohd Sidek Salleh, who is undergoing treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) after undergoing surgery for colon cancer.
Donations were also given to Haslinda Ahmad, the widow of TV3 Perak cameraman Rosli Abu Bakar, who died on May 9 due to multiple health complications.
The aid was contributed by KKD, Bank Rakyat Malaysia Berhad, Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari, Mydin, Aeon Big and MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency