KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 – The Malaysian National News Agency or Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (BERNAMA) marked its 55th year of operations as a news and official information provider last Saturday, May 20th at its headquarters here.
Celebrating its establishment as a trusted media source in the country, the news agency also hosted its Hari Raya open house on the day. The event had more than 600 guests including its board members, management and other staff, its retirees as well as clients and other guests.
Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin was the guest of honour.
Chairman of Bernama, Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, in her speech commended the staff for their untiring efforts over the years to establish the agency as the country’s leading source of credible news, and urged them to continue to innovate and enhance their media skills with the changing landscape of the news industry.
BERNAMA, set up by an Act of Parliament in 1967, started its operations May 20, 1968. Over the years, it has continued to play a significant role in the provision of timely and accurate news to not only its clients who range from newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations but also directly to its viewers via its television channel, and in the more recent times through its social media platforms.
As the newspaper industry grappled with its decline amid the advent of the online and social media services, Bernama made its successful transition into the new era and currently enjoys a significantly high volume of readership and viewers for its website and social media platforms.
Speaking to Weekly Echo, its former Editor-in-Chief and General Manager and currently a member of the Bernama Supervisory Council, Datuk Yong Soo Heong, said the agency has come a long way from the provision of news and data for the print and electronic media.
It is now a national broadcaster as it has television and radio channels as well. This has been due to the dedicated journalists it had and has to bring Bernama to greater heights since the late 1960s.
“I hope that Bernama’s fervour to excel will continue by having the right and best people.”
–WE