KUCHING: Official media organisations nationwide will be placed under one roof to look after the interests of media practitioners and welfare of veteran journalists.
Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) president Mohd Fauzi Ishak said the formation of an umbrella organisation was in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s call to set up a single body for journalists and publishers in this country.
“After this establishment was approved by the Registration of Organizations Department (ROS), we have various plans for journalists such as holding media awards at the national level and to safeguard the welfare of all media in Malaysia.
“In addition, we will also help veteran journalists who are in need. InsyaAllah, with the support of all the media associations in each state, it is hoped that this GKMM will be successful,” he said during a courtesy visit by a GKMM delegation to the New Sarawak Tribune office here, yesterday (Aug 5).
Sharing the history of the establishment of GKMM, Fauzi said the idea was mooted when media associations facilitated COVID-19 vaccinations for media practitioners and journalists last year.
“At that time all the associations gathered and worked together to get media practitioners and journalists vaccinated nationwide. That is why we thought that an official coalition should be established for the benefit of media practitioners,” he added.
For the record, Sarawak is the third state that the GKMM visited after Langkawi and Sabah.
“We will be visiting all the states to introduce the coalition’s objectives,” he said.
During the courtesy visit, the GKMM delegation was also briefed on the history of the establishment and background of the New Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak.
Also present were the New Sarawak Tribune managing editor Aden Nagrace, Suara Sarawak executive editor Rohana Waheed, and business development executive and special functions Dorge Rajah.
