Divided into 24 teams -- up from 18 last year, the participants had to tackle 35 mind-boggling questions.
The answers were ‘hidden’ in signages, frames and photos on the walls and along the corridors.
Even the automated teller machine (ATM) and a fund-raising box in the lobby made into the list of questions.
Making the occasion a joyous one, teams that produced ‘funny’ answers were also ‘rewarded’ with hampers.
While the search for answers occupied the minds of the participants during the hour-and-a-half long hunt, Bernama chairman Abdul Rahman Sulaiman said the anniversary was a timely occasion for Bernama to do some soul-searching.
Are we satisfied with what we are doing?
Can we fit into the present environment where the new media is a challenge for the traditional media in the dissemination of news?
How can we attract the IT-savvy young Malaysians who are turning to the internet for their news supply either from blogs or social networking platforms.
“To stay relevant, we must be prepared to change,” said Rahman in his ‘maiden speech’ to the staff since becoming chairman before presenting prizes to the winning teams.
But in doing so, he said Bernama must not forget the objective of its formation in 1967 – ten years after the country’s Independence.
Bernama’s services to subscribers especially in Sabah and Sarawak was vital to meet the spirit of national integration.
Spearheaded by the Father of Independence – Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the idea of setting-up Malaysia’s own news agency was crucial so as to relay government policies to the whole nation. It was to be what Antara was to Indonesia.
Having our own news agency was further justified to reduce dependency on the ‘Big Four” – United Press International, Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse – which then controlled over 80 per cent of global news flow.
The debate for a New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) was gaining momentum then over media representations of the developing world, who sought for more equitable and balanced news coverage.
Bernama was set-up on August 30, 1967 by an Act of Parliament and began operations on May 20,1968 from a now-demolished government bungalow, not far from Wisma Bernama.
From a pioneer team of seven at the start of its operation, Bernama now has some 600 staff.
In its first phase of operations, coverage was confined to Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas. Within a year of its operation, the agency established bureaus in Pulau Pinang, Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
The third phase launched in 1970/1971, provided coverage for the whole nation with a network of state correspondents and stringers.
This was followed by the setting-up of overseas buraeus in Jakarta and Bangkok and the introduction of specialised services -- Economic Service and the Features and Foreign News Service.
Charting the progress of Bernama from a news agency to a multimedia organisation, Rahman said Bernama should strive to seek a balance between commercial need and maintaining professionalism.
“We have to make money and at the same time serve our subscribers.
“This would require creative and innovative ideas,” says Rahman, whose appointment as Bernama chairman on Feb 1, could be described as the Malay saying of “sirih pulang ke gagang” (back to the grove).
After working as a radio reporter with RTM, he joined Bernama in 1971 and rose to become Editor-in-Chief before opting for retirement in 1995 to contest in the general election as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Parit Buntar Parliamentary constituency.
Although he was not among the seven pioneer staff, Rahman has an emotional attachment with Bernama as he was involved in the structuring of the editorial operations.
His illustrious career in the agency spanned from being the bureau chief in Johor (1971–1972), correspondent in Thailand and Indochina (1976-1978), chief sub-editor (1978 - 1979), chief news editor (1979 – 1980), Editor Domestic News Service (1983-1984) and eventually to Editor-in-Chief (1989-1995).
On Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s call today for the media to be the Government’s partner in efforts to bring greater transformation to the country, Rahman said being a government agency, it was only logical for Bernama to carry out that responsibility.
This would mean explaining to the people the 1Malaysia concept, New Economic Model and Government Transformation Programme, among other things.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad’s new headquarters at Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Najib said the media must give priority to news that was more knowledge-oriented so that the society could think in a more intellectual and objective manner.
“I know that journalism in the West would stress that conflict sells stories but don’t be obsessed with sensational stories because we want the nation to achieve physical success and intellectualism,” he said.
