An unexpected visitor ...

I had just got into a small chat with a nurse around 4.30pm when all of a sudden, I saw a familiar face approaching me. I just couldn't believe it was Tengku Razaleigh. As he stood by my bed, he looked great in a short-sleeve tailored shirt. He told me he had to come and see me after Shabery had informed him that I was in hospital.
Shabery, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, had visited me yesterday. I didn't expect both of them to come and visit me. I even asked Ku Li to pinch my elbow to be sure that I was not dreaming.

Glut of second-hand cars....

We are told that there are some 750,000 second-hand cars unsold in the country. And we are told that anyone who can afford the car has already got one. With Proton, Perodua, Naza, Inokom and soon Cherry Alado flooding the market with the new offerings, I wonder how Malaysians are going to absorb all these. The only way out it appears is for these companies to export and for our second-hand car dealers to find new markets in lesser developed countries.

Towards building an Asean community ...

An Asean Information Seminar, aimed at promoting a regional community, took place at the Grand Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur today. Managed to get Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Ministry Ahmad Shabery Cheek to speak on "Ten Nations, One Community: Issues and The Way Forward".
ISIS Assistant Director-General Stephen Leong touched on "Asean: Challenges and Achievement" and Prof Dr Rahmat Mohamad, Director of Centre of Asean Studies at UITM, Shah Alam elaborated on efforts towards achieving an Asean Community by 2020.

Quitting office Timor Leste style...via SMS

When Jose Ramos-Horta resigned as Timor Leste's foreign minister yesterday, he did so via a mobile phone text message. He told a news briefing in Dili that he had sent an SMS to Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri announcing his intention to quit. He received a reply in the same format from the prime minister. "I explained myself in a subsequent text message," he said. The country -- Asia's youngest nation -- has been embroiled for months in a political crisis and text messaging has emerged as the fastest and most
reliable means of communication. Thousands of protesters clamouring for Alkatiri's resignation have been mobilising themselves via SMS and news of him stepping down today spread rapidly through text messages. Alkatiri said he was giving up the post to avoid the resignation of the nation's popular president, Xanana Gusmao, who had threatened to quit himself unless the prime minister left office.

A 'world-class' aspiration...

Being the first news agency in the world to attain ISO-status is not good enough for Bernama. What it needs to do is to continously improve itself albeit in small steps. The biggest threat is complacency. So, over the last two-and-half days, senior officers converged in the seaside town of Port Dickson, some 100 kms from Kuala Lumpur, to review the organisation's overall ISO procedures. A significant aspect that was re-examined in the quality manual was to upgrade Bernama's aspiration from being a leading regional news agency to a world-class entity. The brainstorming retreat also marked the introduction of the operational procedure for the newly-created Bernama International Service. The formation of BIS had been endorsed by the management having seen the need to split the Features and Foreign News Service to make them more focussed. Features is now back under the General News Service but with an improvised approach. In terms of quality system, continuous improvement will propel an organisation towards excellence. This can be envisioned through the "Deming Cycle" named after American statistician William Edwards Deming, regarded as the Father of Modern Quality Control.

The "Deming Cycle" provides a framework for continuous improvement of business process. It can be summed up in four bold steps:

• Plan: Determine the action you intend to take as well as the steps required to achieve it. Design the new process (the "to-be" state)

• Do: Execute the plan. Implement the new process

• Check: Measure the outcome of the plan. This require identifying measurable outcomes of the new process

• Act: Decide what needs to be done to improve the process.

Deming, also a college professor, author, lecturer and consultant was widely credited with improving production in the United States during World War II. However, he was perhaps best known for his work in Japan where he developed the PDCA approach in the 1950s. He taught top Japanese management better design of products to improve service and higher level of uniform product quality. Deming made a significant contribution towards Japan becoming renowned for producing innovative high quality products. He is regarded as having had more impact upon Japanese manufacturing and business than any other individual not of Japanese heritage.

Face to face with Yvonne Ridley

I finally met her today -- the award-winning journalist who was sort of an enigma to me. Having come across her name during my research on the British media reporting of Islam in Cambridge late 2004, I had hoped to meet her. She had made international headlines in September 2001 when she was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan while on an undercover assignment for a British newspaper. Held in captivity for 10 days, she promised to read the Quran after her release and converted to Islam in August 2003. Currently the political editor of London-based Islam Channel, the first free-to-air English language, Islamic-focussed satellite channel, Yvonne Ridley is also an active Muslim peace campaigner. Known for her outspoken views and defence of Islam since she became a Muslim, Yvonne spoke on Islam and Freedom of Expression at a conference held in conjunction with the International Islamic Fair 2006 in Kuala Lumpur. She smiled when I asked her later how far she thought she had gone in her efforts to get the non-Muslims to understand Islam. “Well, I think it is a very slow drip in process because whenever I speak, they get really upset and offended and then they sit down in a quiet room and a few days later, they quell, maybe…It’s a long process,” she said. “But you know, I learn very long, even before I became a Muslim, you never kneel down in front of the enemy, otherwise they have you,” she said. “They will probably never understand us, but just respect us as individuals, as human beings. We have a right to be treated with equality and justice,” she said in obvious reference to the so-called war on terror.

Greatest show on Earth kicks off...

The greatest show on Earth kicks off today with 1.5 billion people in 200 countries expected to watch the opening match 'live' between host Germany and Costa Rica. With all 64 matches of the World Cup Finals to be shown live over television, die-hard soccer fanatics are bracing for a month-long extravaganza. As the excitement reaches feverish-level, it's a victory of sort for all as the world speaks in one language -- football (although some prefer to call it soccer!). Just as in other major sporting event, the tournament logo plays a crucial part. Instantly recognisable, the logo of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany has appeared on publications, at associated events and on merchandising. The agencies commissioned to design the logo were given an exhaustive list of criteria before they set out their work. As the host nation, Germany had to be instantly recognisable in the logo, as did the light-hearted and relaxed character of the 2006 tournament. It had to be unconventional, without being technocratic, and in keeping with the brand image of FIFA. As the event's organiser, FIFA commissioned London agency Whitestone to produce the logo. The decision to appoint Whitestone was based on their previous, outstanding design for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan logo. The goal was to convey, via a symbol, the incomparable emotions that can only be evoked by football. Dozens of meetings followed after preliminary discussions started in September 2001, even before the last World Cup. There were discussions, deliberations and sometimes arguments. The end result was "Celebrating Faces Of Football".

The Power of Love ...

The love of power could, at times, put to test the power of love. Malaysians woke up this morning to front-paged news of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's sharp criticisms of the current administration. Between loyalty and respect, this is the day when ministers had to choose between their fondness and gratitude to Dr Mahathir and their duty of speaking up for the leader of the day. Those who had served both administrations found themselves in the most difficult situation. While Cabinet Ministers, Barisan Nasional component parties and the rakyat stood solidly behind him, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi chose not to wade into controversy. "Tun (Dr Mahathir) is free to say anything. It is not a problem for me because our country is democratic," he told reporters after handing-over keys to owners of low-cost flats in Sandakan in the state of Sabah. At a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday, Dr Mahathir poured eveything out on his relations with the government , going so far as to imply that he had picked the wrong person to lead the country.

Friends at heart...

They were supposed to be sworn political enemies, ever ready to seize the slightest opportunity to attack each other. Their once highly-publicised feud were so intense that it led to the split of the party. While one stayed on to lead the organisation, the other left to form his own party. Years have passed and both continue to lead their supporters in separate entities. Time could have probably heal the wound. When one of them sought treatment for his ailing heart, the other put aside their political differences and visited the sick man at the National Heart Institute. It would have been a front-page picture but an aide gave a big 'NO' when told of the possible storyline. Just as the heart triggers the feelings of love and hatred, it does have another important role. Ailing or not, the broken heart will have to keep the meeting between the two men a secret.

Upward sales trend for world newspapers ...

Worldwide sales of newspapers increased slightly in 2005. Their advertising revenues rose more sharply as the industry resisted competition from other media.
This is according to a report released Monday by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). "Overall, the audience for newspapers keeps on growing, both in print and online," said Timothy Balding, chief executive officer of the Paris-based WAN. "Newspapers are increasing their reach through the exploitation of a wide range of new distribution channels, ranging from daily free newspapers to online editions. They are proving to be incredibly resilient against the onslaught of a wide range of media competition," he said. The report was released to delegates attending the 59th World Newspaper Congress and 13th World Editors Forum in Moscow, Russia. Among the main points in the report are:
- 439 million newspapers are sold every day, against 414 million in 2001, while more than one billion people read a newspaper.
- The five biggest markets for newspapers are China (96.6 million sold every day), India (78.7 million) Japan (69.7 million), the United States (53.3 million) and Germany (21.5 million).
Other highlights of the report are listed in an on-line news report World Press Trends: Newspaper Circulation, Advertising Increases .

Don't Desert Drylands!

It’s the time of the year when the world examines the state of its surroundings. Commemorated each year on 5 June, the World Environment Day stimulates global awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The theme selected for 2006 is Deserts and Desertification and the slogan is Don't Desert Drylands! The slogan emphasizes the importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40 per cent of the planet’s surface. This ecosystem is home to one-third of the world’s population which has surged to 6.5 billion from about 2.5 billion in 1950. The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2006 is being held in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria in northern Africa. The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development. It is also aimed at promoting an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. As the celebration is a people's event, colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns are held all over the world. World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Media moguls powwow in Moscow ...

With over 1,500 publishers, chief editors, managing directors, CEOs and senior newspaper executives from 103 countries convening in Moscow, it is billed as the world's largest gathering to chart the industry's future. The 59th World Newspaper Congress, 13th World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo which opens today in the Russian capital will run until Wednesday. The Congress will focus on the immense wave of innovation that continues to sweep through the global newspaper industry, bringing success to companies that are seizing the new opportunities and embracing change. It provides key developments in the industry, with the latest data and information on global newspaper trends. The congress will also examine new publications, new advertising and circulation strategies, new digital product development and new business practices. The Editors Forum, on the other hand, will focus on what newspapers can do to adapt to the changing habits of the "free generation" - readers who are accustomed to getting their news from free newspapers and free internet sites. The conference will look at such topics as embracing citizen journalism, offering broadband services, developing weekend editions and supplements and protecting newspaper credibility. Alongside these events, Info Services Expo 2006 will showcase the new services and technologies which are shaping the newspaper of the future. Among the registered participants is Sanjay Gupta, CEO of the Indian daily Dainak Jagran, which has the biggest readership in the world -- some 21 million. Founder of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, will attend a forum on "citizen journalism".

Love is blind, marriage an eye-opener...

The young couple looked radiant as they mingled with their guests who congratulated them on their marriage. They are among the many across the country who are taking advantage of the on-going school holidays to tie the nuptial knot. For the newly-weds, it is everyone’s hope that they have a blissful life albeit an uncertain future. The journey could be rough, at times, depending on the route they take. If both could stick to their promise during courtship to overcome the challenges together, come what may, then married life could be smooth-sailing. After all, love is what makes two people sit in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of space at both ends. Sitting among the guests, I could only admire the couple -- Linda and Kumaran, whom despite their different background, have taken the big step forward to settle down as husband and wife. I’m sure they are aware that a marriage does not mean just accepting the other as a life partner but to be part of his or her family. For their families too, it also means having to make adjustment to their lives as they open their hearts to accept a new member of the family. Love is blind and marriage is an eye-opener.

A helping hand...

A helping hand makes the heart happy. I realise how true this notion is when I got Mokh to start his blog. I had told him how exciting blogging is and this got him interested. After getting his blog up, Mokh wasted no time to post his items. The man from Pedas (literally meaning hot, as in taste) has proudly posted his photographs including that of his visit to the Pentagon. Unlike its 'hot' name, Pedas is a quiet town, 70km south of Kuala Lumpur. But Mokh would swear that the town has full of hot stuff.
I'm happy that his new-found interest is getting his adrenalin flowing in putting his thoughts to writing. I do hope he will update his blog regularly and make it 'pedas' as it would help others to know him better. There's a saying that if you wish to know the mind of a man, listen to his words.
When I was starting out in this profession, I used to read articles written by seniors and editors to learn about the trade. Even now, I continue to keep on the look-out for articles written by seasoned journalists. On this note, it is interesting to see that some former senior newspaper editors have their own blogs to voice their opinions on various subjects. While some have no qualms about making known their identity, others prefer to remain incognito.
I was fortunate to get a copy of a handbook for bloggers produced by Reporters Without Borders. It explains how to set up and make the most of a blog, to publicise it (getting it picked up efficiently by search-engines) and to establish its credibility through observing basic ethical and journalistic principles.

Tribute to the country's oldest news magazine...

Mastika, the monthly magazine published by the Utusan Group, celebrates its 65th anniversary today. Surely this is no ordinary feat for a local post-World War II publication, which hit the street long before the country's independence in 1957. The fact that it could survive all these years is enough to command respect. Of course, the company had to generate new ideas from time to time to keep Mastika going. The magazine was printed in Jawi when it was introduced on June 1, 1941. The Utusan Melayu editor at that time Abdul Rahim Kajai, regarded as the father of Malay journalism, and the company's managing editor Yusoff Ishak, who later became the first president of Singapore were instrumental in the birth of the magazine. From Jawi, Mastika started to use Rumi, the romanised script in 1967, the year Utusan Malaysia made its debut. At one time, the magazine circulation was so low that the company contemplated of ending its publication. But after much soul-searching among its editors, they decided to improvised the content so as to capture the readers attention. Thus, the new-look Mastika emerged in September 1995 with stories about ghosts and supernaturals. The public simply love the stuff they were reading and in a matter of months, Mastika managed to sell 20,000 copies. Its rise was phenomenal, notching 150,000 copies a month within one year, making it the fastest growing magazine in the country's history. Its current circulation is about 300,000 copies a month, the highest-selling magazine in Malaysia.

Stamp world converges in Washington ...

More than 10,000 people were reported to have toured the displays on the opening day of the 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition at the Washington Convention Center on Saturday. Apart from curious first-timers gazing at the exhibits of international correspondence, veteran stamp collectors were there to find what has been missing from their own holdings. The World Philatelic Exhibition is held at least once a year, drawing thousands of stamp collectors and others interested in philately to host cities around the world. A city in the United States is chosen to host the event about once every decade. Some 135 postal administrations from around the world are also involved in the philatelic exhibition, making it a lively, colourful global event. At a time when the postal service is contending with a decline in postal mail because of the ubiquity of e-mail, text messages and other forms of communication that do not require a stamp, the huge interest for the exhibition provides a rebuttal to the notion that stamps and correspondence are irrelevant. Being an ardent first-day cover collector, I have invested a substantial amount of money, time and energy in the hobby which has turned into a passion. During a trip to the United States some years ago, I told a group of university students that stamps had enabled me to broaden my world view. In fact, my early encounter with the U.S. was through stamps given by an American peace corp Robert Feingold to us, a group of young boys, in the small remote town of Kuala Krai in Kelantan in the late 1960s. You don't have to think hard for the answer if someone ask you: What stays in the corner and travels the world?

An expanded NAM...from Malaysia to Cuba

While the 45 year-old Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has had to frequently deal with the question of its relevancy, two new members were accepted at its ministerial meeting which ends in Putrajaya today. The entry of the two Caribbean island nations of Dominica along with Antigua and Barbuda bolsters the membership to 116. After leading the movement since 2003, Malaysia will hand over the chairmanship to Cuba in September. Aware of the growing challenges facing NAM, the meeting had deliberated on strategies and approaches to protect and advance the interests of the movement. The issues range from international politics and security to economics and trade, development, human rights, the environment, international terrorism to social and cultural issues, among others. While NAM is generally united on broad matters of principles of importance to the movement, they are sometimes unable to use their numerical strength to their best advantage. They could, for instance, make a bigger
impact on the reform and restructuring of the United Nations. In a world with new realities. NAM has to adjust to the changes. It can do so without abandoning its fundamental principles of seeking a more just, equitable and peaceful world.

Let there be peace...

Timor Leste should have been celebrating its fourth independence anniversary on May 20. Instead their leaders are working hard to bring back peace after a military rebellion deteriorated into widespread clashes by regional rivals. The troubles began last month when around 600 of Timor Leste's 1,400-strong army were sacked after they went on strike to protest over alleged discrimination against soldiers from the east of the country. The disgruntled soldiers fought sporadic battles with the military last week but the violence quickly spread to clashes between rival gangs from the east and west. With almost the entire 2,500-strong contingent of peacekeepers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal now on the ground, terrified residents were simply hoping for a sense of security so that
they could return to their homes. This unfortunate episode clearly reflects the difficulties of fledgling nations to maintain peace and order. It is just as tough, or even harder, than the efforts put in towards the hard-fought independence.
On an assignment to cover former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to the tiny island nation in October 2003, I remember him stating Malaysia's pledge to continue with its "prosper-thy-neighbour" philosophy. He had said a prosperous neighbour would benefit Malaysia because it could become the market for Malaysian-made goods and would not cause any problems that could spill over to other countries. Dr Mahathir was the first foreign head of government to make an official visit to the country which gained independence from Indonesia in May 2002. The three-day trip from Oct 22 to 24, 2003 was among the last he made before stepping down as prime minister a week later after 22 years in office.
Dr Mahathir said his visit to Timor Leste reminded him of the situation in Malaysia before it attained progress. "We are sometimes quick to forget... when we have achieved progress, we become conceited and behave as though all this is normal and forget our poverty and the difficulty we endured in overcoming this poverty," he said.

The hazards on reporting in conflict areas...

What are the hazards faced by journalists working in conflict areas? How could they interact with humanitarian organisations in such situation? These are some of the issues addresed at a seminar on working and reporting on humanitarian issues in conflict areas organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The seminar held at the Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, today is organised in conjunction with the Asia Media Summit 2006. The day-long seminar also touched on the thought-provoking question of impartiality and neutrality in armed conflict situations and the safety of journalists in such situations. Speakers include journalists who had been to war zones and representatives of humanitarian bodies. ICRC decided to hold the seminar as an increasing number of journalists were travelling to war zones worldwide to report on armed conflicts. They frequently encounter humanitarian workers sent to provide much needed aid to war victims. The challenging and often life-threatening working environment in conflict zones requires that journalists and humanitarian workers have the knowledge and reporting skills necessary to succeed. These include an understanding of international humanitarian law, the legal framework designed to minimise the human suffering caused by armed conflict. Even as the seminar was taking place, pressmen and relief organisations from all over the world were heading for Indonesia after a devastating earthquake rocked large swathes of Central Java and Yogjakarta provinces yesterday. The 6.3 magnitude quake killed at least 6,000 people, injured some 46,000 and damaged or destroyed more than 139,000 homes.

The day NAM lost its founder...

As diplomats from across Asia, Africa and Latin America begin a two-day meeting in Putrajaya today, host Malaysia urged member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) not to question the continued relevance of the 45 year-old movement. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the 114-member NAM's relevancy had persistently been questioned, both by NAM members as well its critics, since the end of the Cold War. "There is no doubt in my mind about the continued, indeed increased relevance, of NAM for a number of reasons," he said when opening the Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials for the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB). It was not the first time for the minister to voice the concern . Ironically, it was on this day that NAM lost one of its founding fathers with the death of India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. He died of a heart attack at the age of 74. As India’s first prime minister since it achieved independence from Britain in 1947, Nehru refused to align the country to either Soviet Union or United States in the Cold War. Representing the interests of developing countries, NAM has its origin in the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. The meeting brought together leaders of 29 states, mostly former colonies, from the two continents of Africa and Asia, to discuss common concerns and to develop joint policies in international relations. Nehru, along with Indonesian President Sukarno and Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, led the conference. At the meeting Third World leaders shared their similar problems of resisting the pressures of the major powers, maintaining their independence and opposing colonialism and neo-colonialism, especially western domination.

Catering to the needs of pressmen....

Cutting the white-and-purple ribbon, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar opened the International Media Centre for the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB) Ministerial Meeting at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) Friday. The centre is ready to cater to the needs of journalists covering the four-day meeting from May 27 to 30 including those from the non-English speaking countries. More than 100 journalists and photographers from 15 countries have confirmed their presence to cover the event. Apart from Internet-access computer terminals including those in French, Arabic and Chinese, the centre provides Internet ports for journalists using their own laptops and wireless Internet services. The centre was set-up and managed by Bernama, already a 'veteran' in providing such expertise. In major international events and summit, an efficient media centre has become an important component to ensure their success. With such facilities, pressmen would be able to carry out their work with ease while the events get good coverage and the desired impact.

You mean a world...

"To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world".
I picked this up from the radio last night as it belted out easy listening hits one after another. Soon my mind wandered around and in the ensuing mood, recalled a friend's timely advice. I had asked him whether all the things in the world would still mean anything when the end seemed so near for me. Of course, I had told him about my visit to the clinic and the remarks made by the specialist. Sensing my badly-bruised morale, he tried to cheer me up saying that he was in no better situation himself. In fact, some believed he would have died in 2004 because of his ill-health. But he fought the battle and stood the challenge with whatever strength he had. It was not easy but he had no choice. He had to be strong for he was a gallant man in the eyes of his young children. He means a world to them. I could imagine how traumatic it would have been for the young souls to lose a loved one at such tender age. I lost my mother when I was six. Decades have past and I still yearn for a mother's love. Thank you my friend for those encouraging words. I know I have to be strong to face the world because in my children worldly eyes, their papa is their world.

'Walking time-bomb'

I am no suicide bomber. Neither do I aspire to be one. But when the doctor told me today that I am a walking time-bomb, I really had a lot of thinking to do. Perhaps it is more than just thinking but to do something. That something must be carried out fast lest it'll be disaster. Although I had anticipated my blood pressure to be on the higher side, I did not imagine that it would rose to 200/120. Even the specialist doctor was particularly concerned. "You are a walking time-bomb," she told me. The last time I saw her a month ago, the reading was 170/110. Have to admit that of late, I had not been paying much attention to my health. Worse still, I've not been taking the medicine she prescribed for some time. She warned me not to skip the medication as she said it could have been the cause for the higher BP reading. So she prescribed three medicine for me -- Atenolol (100mg), Amlodipine (10mg) and Losartan potassium (50mg) to be taken daily. But she told me to get my BP reading before taking the third pill, an expensive brand! Only if the level remains high, should I take the medicine. No matter how difficult it will be for me to swallow the pill, I will need to keep my will power strong.

Being part of the global community

The Wolfson College 2004-2005 magazine made its way from Cambridge to my home today. Had a pleasant surprise when I turned to page 44 under the title "The Press Fellowship 2002-2005" for there was a mug-shot of me alongside the photo of my fellow mate Farai of Zimbabwe. My thoughts were immediately taken back to the time when we were on the programme during the Michaelmas Term 2004. I couldn't agree more with what programme director John Naughton wrote: "What makes the Press Fellowship distinctive is that it is not a course, but a way of giving busy journalists the time and space in which to do some serious thinking, away from the pressures of their professional lives." In the course of my 'research' on 'The British Media Reporting of Islam', I had the chance to read various British newspapers and meet or communicate with a number of personalities, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. I truly value the experience as it has made me a better person and helped me in the course of my work, just like the time when I organised the visit of the Indian journalists to Malaysia or the UNESCO-approved workshop for journalists from Arabic-speaking countries. I am looking forward to even more challenging tasks in discharging my duties as being part of the global community. In this regard, it is heartening to note of John's writing that the Press Fellowship is 24 years old this year and will soon be welcoming its 300th fellow. (I suppose it has done so by now). As he rightly pointed out: "The map of the world on which we record the countries from which Press Fellows come now has pins in 44 countries - a new (and we hope benign) 'empire' on which the sun never sets."

Bernama opens Beijing bureau

Bernama, the Malaysian national news agency, has opened a bureau in Beijing as part of its international expansion programme. With the announcement today, Beijing adds up to existing Bernama bureaus in Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok. After Beijing, Bernama plans to open offices in Dubai and New Delhi. The agency also has stringers in Melbourne, Washington, London, Bonn and Colombo. Bernama has 500 staff and provides news and information in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Arabic to newspaper, news agency, magazine and other subscribers. It also produces television news bulletins.
While the news was greeted with much enthusiasm, the agency mourned the death of a former editor, Louis Donald Baptist, 57. He died after he collapsed while shopping with his wife in a supermarket. Baptist was one of the early recruits into Bernama, joining the news agency in April 1969 after stints with the Penang Straits Echo and Eastern Sun. He made his name as a court reporter and served as the Bernama correspondent in Bangkok before rising to become editor of the English sub-editors desk. He resigned from Bernama in 1997 to join a daily as a copy editor before returning to the agency in 2003 to work as a copy sub-editor on the foreign desk until last year when he retired.

Between a wise man and a fool...

Many a time when confronted with an issue, there's bound to be pros and cons. In a world which considers freedom of expression a crucial element of human right, it is hardly unusual for mortal souls to have their own say in matters concerning their interest. Whether it's right or wrong, good or bad, the important thing is to learn how to agree to disagree. Or is it disagree to agree? For the press, comments from the public, leaders and those with vested interest are often sought whenever an issue arises. More often than not, many unwarranted statements creep into the picture from publicity-seeking personalities. They often wear many hats, giving them all-round advantage to pounce and capitalize on any issue. It is often during such situation that a person could be judged of either being a wise man or a fool. Why? A wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks because he has to say something.

Arab journalists endorse journalism centre proposal

Twenty-two journalists from Arabic-speaking countries concluded their week-long familiarisation programme in Kuala Lumpur today with a strong endorsement of the idea to establish an international Islamic journalism centre. They hoped the centre, proposed by Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin in his speech at the opening of the workshop on Tuesday May 2, could be formed soon.
Apart from getting Muslim journalists to discuss common issues, the minister had said the centre could organise programmes for non-Muslim journalists to know more about Islam.

In a five-point declaration, the journalists from 17 countries lauded the initiative to hold the workshop as a step to improve the friendly relations between the Ummah from the Arab world and Southeast Asia.
They also gave their support to the NAM News Network (NNN) by pledging to get their news agencies to send their news to it.The participants, including seven women, suggested that the workshop be continued in the future as a training opportunity for journalists.

Linking press freedom to poverty eradication...

The Bernama-run workshop for journalists from Arabic-speaking countries enters its second day today as World Press Freedom Day 2006 is celebrated across the globe. Some 300 participants attending an international conference on Media, Development and Poverty Eradication in Sri Lanka adopted the Colombo Declaration calling for freedom of the press to be recognized as a core element in development strategies. The Declaration recognizes the important role of press freedom in the fight against all forms of poverty and exclusion. "This year, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the consideration of how protecting and furthering the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and press freedom can assist in assuring another human right – the right to be free from poverty,” says UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura. Following the two-day conference which ended on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Matsuura presented the 2006 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to Lebanese journalist May Chidiac. The award which carries US$25,000 prize money was created in memory of the Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano, assassinated in 1987 for exposing the work of drug barons. Chidiac, a popular television news journalist, lost her left hand and foot in a car bomb attack on 25 September 2005. While praising Chidiac’s “courage and professionalism”, Matsuura recalled that 2005 was a very bad year as far as violence against the media was concerned. Quoting statistics from the International Federation of Journalists, he said 150 media professionals were killed in the line of duty last year and more than 500 media professionals had been detained or imprisoned. Next year’s main World Press Freedom Day celebration will be held in Colombia. The celebration was first proposed by participants at the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, which UNESCO organized in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1991.

Bracing for a highly-anticipated gathering

After weeks of nerve-wrecking efforts in getting their participation, some 25 journalists from Arabic-speaking countries were finally registered for a week-long familiarisation trip to Malaysia starting May 1. They will attend the workshop jointly organised by BERNAMA and UNESCO with the strong support of the Malaysian Information Ministry. Its main objective is to seek a common ground in their approach to covering events and issues concerning Islam. From email exchanges with them, many were eager to visit Malaysia. Yemeni Yahya Arhab, for instance, said he was looking forward to attend the workshop to enhance his reporting knowledge and establish new contacts. Making his first overseas trip, Arhab said he had heard much about
Malaysia, describing it as "the most beautiful country in Asia".
Egyptian journalist Hayam Hammam said she too was looking forward to the programme to know more about Malaysia."It is really my dream to visit Malaysia, such fascinating country which I heard a lot about it and about its people," she said in her email message.
Apart from Yemen and Egypt, the other participants were expected from Algeria, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Sudan, Iraq and Turkey.

Al-Fatihah Tun Ghafar ....

Former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghafar Baba, died at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur this morning due to heart, lung and kidney complications. He was 81. His family members were at his bedside when he breathed last at 7.34am. His simple and sincere ways would always be fondly remembered. Although being in the corridor of power, Ghafar had always remained true to his roots. He refused any sort of honorific, prefering to remain plain Encik Ghafar for most part of his life. It was only after he retired from office that he was persuaded to accept the Tunship. From being the Chief Minister of Melaka from June 1959 to August 1967, he became a Cabinet minister from 1969 to 1976. He was the Deputy Prime Minister from May 7, 1986 to Oct.15, 1993, the year he resigned as Umno deputy president. I was fortunate to be assigned to cover Ghafar in his various capacity either in the government or the party. But one moment which remains vivid in my mind was the time when he faced the challenge for the post of Umno deputy president. Disappointed with the turn of events, Ghafar decided to seek solace abroad. When he came back a few days later, we tried to corner him at the old international airport in Subang but he refused to meet the press. We trailed him to his house in Bukit Pantai but still could not get to see him. We patiently waited outside his gate. An hour passed and then two yet there was no sign of him wanting to talk to us. In our long wait, I remember someone brought out cold drink for us weary reporters to quench our thirst. As it was getting dark, we finally decided to call it a day. But before we left, I had to give another try. I flipped open an empty page of my Bernama notebook and wrote: "Kepada Y.A.B. Encik Ghafar, Selamat kembali ke tanahair. Kami berdoa Y.A.B. berada dalam keadaan sihat walafiat. Terima kasih kerana sudi memberikan kami minuman. Semoga kita dapat bertemu di lain ketika yang lebih sesuai. Terima kasih daripada para wartawan". After writing the note, I tore the page and gave it to the police guard. We requested him to take it to Ghafar. He obliged and we waited with whatever hope we had. After 10 minutes or so, it was still in vain and we knew we had to go. But just as we were walking to our car, the policeman came running out of the house and told us that Ghafar wanted to see us. Of course, we got our story which was well worth waiting for.

Welcoming journalists from Arabic-speaking countries

In less than a month, a workshop-cum-familiarisation programme for journalists from Arabic-speaking countries is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur. Organised by Bernama, the Information Ministry has agreed to provide financial support for the Unesco programme. We are targetting journalists from 17 Arabic countries which are linked to Bernama's Arabic News Service. The workshop would enable participants to get a closer look of Malaysia, its people, culture, attractions and way of life. This is the first time for Bernama to organise a workshop for journalists from the Middle East and North African region. We had conducted a similar programme in 2003 for journalists from the African countries to promote the Smart News Network International (SNNi), created under the initiative of the Langkawi International Dialogue.

A lonely birthday if not for ....

Life can be awfully lonely. Even on the day when one should be rejoicing on his birthday, loved ones could sometimes 'forget' to say 'Happy Birthday'. What's the big deal, you may say. Afterall, birthday means another year is subtracted from your remaining living years. But they don't call it a special day for nothing. At least, I had a pleasant surprise when my handphone beeped with an incoming message just after noon. The message in Malay read "HAPPY BIRTHDAY. panjang umur murahkan rezeki kuatkan iman - kakak 27/3". Immediately, I thought it had come from my daughter but it was not. So, there could only be someone else who knew of my birthday. And that someone would surely not be bothered to remember about it if not for a special reason. Instantaneously I could think of one person, a senior in school who shared my birthday. I contacted the number and yes it was her. We have not spoken for years despite having the common bond. So it was a truly wonderful birthday after all. Thanks to the SMS, although in unspoken words, my depressed spirit was gone. I had reason to smile and be happy. That's what FRANCE is all about -- Friendship Remains And Never Can End.

What happened...

All of a sudden, I realised that I have not posted anything on my blog since the start of the year. What happened? It's a million ringgit question that would surely need a million ringgit more to answer. I guess it's just plain lazy. Or is it another case of broken promises. Yes, I did promise to update my blog regularly. I had pledged to keep on writing, come what may. After all, I've gone through many memorable moments over the last few months. Could it be because of these hectic times that I had just simply ignored my blog. I am now reminded of something I heard years ago: Promises are like babies, they are fun to make but hard to deliver. Fun? I don't know.