Malaysia

National Press Club proposes nationwide journalists’ pact

President Datuk Ahirudin Attan says it can forge understanding with Sabah, Sarawak govts, as well as Putrajaya

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 15 Jul 2022 7:49PM

National Press Club proposes nationwide journalists’ pact — National Press Club president Datuk Ahirudin Attan says the proposal for the journalists to form a pact is to aid the government to collaborate and build understanding between all parties. – The Vibes file pic, July 15, 2022

by Rebecca Chong

KOTA KINABALU – The National Press Club (NPC) hopes to create a pact involving journalists from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia to form an understanding with the Borneo states’ governments as well as the federal government.

Under the Keluarga Malaysia context, NPC president Datuk Ahirudin Attan said the proposal for the journalists to form a pact is to aid the government to collaborate and build understanding between all parties.

“(If we form this pact) then maybe the journalists can play a more active role (in forging an understanding and collaboration),” he said.

Ahirudin, better known as Rocky Bru, said this during a programme attended by NPC members, the Northern Sarawak Journalist Association and the Sabah government, at the Sabah State Administration Centre here, today.

Datuk Ahirudin Attan (seated, third right) with Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (seated, fourth right) at the Sabah Maju Jaya briefing session at the Sabah Administration Centre here, today. – Sabah Chief Minister’s Department pic, July 15, 2022

The programme, which was attended by Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment assistant minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai also saw participants attend a briefing about the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, presented by the SMJ secretariat Ramlee Kariah.

The programme was part of the National Press Club Goodwill Games programme, which will be held here from today until July 18.

Ahirudin, who is also PETRA News executive director, said his proposal to create a journalists’ pact will still have to be discussed with the relevant parties, but with the help of influential politicians such as Bangkuai, the said proposal could be realised.

Meanwhile, Ahirudin said the NPC Goodwill Games programme is NPC’s first outreach programme aimed at strengthening its relationship with media professionals in Sabah and Sarawak.

“While journalists in Malaysia pursue ties with our fellow journalists abroad, we must also forge a stronger bond among ourselves,” he said.

He also said the NPC appreciated the SMJ briefing, saying that to achieve Keluarga Malaysia means to understand each other’s strengths and aspirations.

“Without this knowledge (about SMJ), journalists would not be able to report accurately, report the truth,” he added. – The Vibes, July 15, 2022