Source : @ShafinaAmin
KUALA LUMPUR, October 26, 2026 – Shafina Mohd Amin, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Kandungan Digital) Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia, or Deputy Director-General (Digital Content) of the Information Department of Malaysia, has highlighted the reach of the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA welfare fund, which has now benefited 886 media practitioners nationwide with contributions totalling RM2.61 million since it was introduced in April 2023.
In a post she shared on X on October 26, Shafina quoted an update from the Information Department’s official account and added a short prayer for the recipients: “Semoga dapat meringankan kesukaran yang dihadapi,” which translates as “May it help ease the hardships they face.”
The Information Department (Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia) update she shared said the fund has supported 886 media practitioners with RM2.61 million in contributions since April 2023, including 280 recipients this year out of a target of 300. The accompanying graphic quoted Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, citing Berita RTM on October 25.
RM2,612,790 in aid since 2023
According to Bernama, Teo announced the figures on October 25 while speaking at the Minnal FM Media Appreciation Ceremony (Majlis Apresiasi Media Minnal FM) at Menara Kuala Lumpur. She said the accumulated contributions stood at RM2,612,790, and that the welfare and safety of media practitioners had always been a concern of the Communications Ministry, which led to the fund being set up to help those in need.
“So, anyone who needs help from this fund, please contact my office or the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), because Bernama is the secretariat of this fund,” Teo said. “We at Bernama and the ministry will do our best to help our friends in the media.”
Also present at the event were Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj and Director-General of Broadcasting Datuk Ashwad Ismail.
TM partnership extends the fund’s reach
Teo said a further 116 media practitioners have received help through Tabung Kasih@HAWANA X TM since the strategic collaboration with Telekom Malaysia (TM) began in June, with contributions amounting to RM361,300. The programme extends the original fund through TM’s corporate social responsibility budget so that more media workers in need can be reached.
At the ceremony, Teo presented contributions under Tabung Kasih@HAWANA X TM to seven media practitioners facing health problems and financial hardship. Four of them attended in person, while the other three will receive their aid through Bernama. The recipients were production assistant Thisaigal S. Murugesan, former Vanakam Malaysia editor K. Padmanabhan, Media Prima part-time camera operator A. Amuthan, former Tamil Malar editor K. Maniam, former Malaysia Nanban journalist A.S. Rajeswaran, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) programme producer Saritha and RTM camera operator Norfazreen Ezny Onn.
Support for veteran artists too
In a related development, Teo said the ministry, through the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), is continuing its Ziarah Seni MADANI@FINAS initiative to help veteran artists and arts practitioners dealing with health problems, frailty or emergencies. Between 2023 and October 25 this year, 250 arts practitioners benefited from the initiative, with contributions totalling RM180,700. At the same event, she also presented contributions to five Indian arts practitioners in conjunction with the Deepavali celebrations.
Tabung Kasih@HAWANA is led by the Communications Ministry and run through Bernama to assist media practitioners facing difficulties, including health and financial problems. The fund takes its name from HAWANA, the National Journalists’ Day celebration, and has become one of the government’s main channels for supporting journalists, photographers, camera operators and other media workers who fall on hard times.
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