Meeting in Bangkok to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), delegates adopted an ethical guidelines declaration for their work.
The declaration says:
"As the world and our region moves to more tumultuous times, as humanity faces growing financial and social problems, as we witness more conflicts and natural disasters and as the media world faces a huge shift, we, the delegates at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of OANA, gathered here in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 13th to the 15th, commemorating 50 years of our noble responsibility of upholding the fundamentals to our founding charter, to transcend all known barriers to the free flow of information necessary to securing lasting peace, the recognition of ethnic and cultural wealth beyond traditional borders, and the safeguarding of human rights and dignity, hereby declare our collective commitments to:
- Act responsibly in covering wars, conflicts, terrorism, violence and natural disasters bearing in mind the public interest in full, fair and accurate reporting, respect for privacy and universal human rights.
- Take great care about the quality and style of our stories that they do not encourage violence, spread fear, traumatise, damage the principles of equality and justice, degrade human dignity and foster discrimination.
- Refrain from publishing stories or visual material that will be deemed offensive and discriminatory on the basis of class, race, language, religion, gender, and region that will generate feelings of hostility among people.
- Accept the sanctity of human life and avoid running pictures or video footage that will hurt the dignity of victims and cause further suffering to their families and psychological distress in public.
- Respect the privacy of the individual and the dignity of the dead regardless of who they are.
- Exercise great judgement in distributing graphic pictures and videos of executions, close-up shots of dead or wounded people and mutilated bodies and limbs, degrading human dignity.
Acknowledging our inevitable responsibility to incorporate the above stated guidelines into our editorial principles, we pledge to work closely with one another in implementing this declaration."
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Money is yours but ..
Something to ponder from the following email that I received today:
Germany is a highly industrialised country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, Simons etc.
The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small town in this country.
In such a country, many will think its people leads a luxurious life.
At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party
for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty.
There was a table where a young couple was having their meal.
There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on the table.
I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would
distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.
We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered.
As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.
As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities
arranged for us, we did not spend much time dining.
When we left, there were still about one third of unconsumed food on the table.
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us.
We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant owner.
When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us
wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were really being too busybody.
"We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind,"
my colleague Gui told the old ladies.
The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her handphone out and
made a call to someone.
After a while, a man in uniform claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organisation arrived.
Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Mark fine.
We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly apologised to the officer.
The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS
YOURS, BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY.
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES."
Our faces turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts.
The mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame.
WE REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from country which is not very rich in resources.
To save face, we order large quantities and also waste food when we give others a treat.
THIS LESSON TAUGHT US TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.
My colleague photostated the fine ticket and gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir.
All of us kept it and pasted on our wall to remind us that we shall never be wasteful.
Germany is a highly industrialised country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, Simons etc.
The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small town in this country.
In such a country, many will think its people leads a luxurious life.
At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party
for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty.
There was a table where a young couple was having their meal.
There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on the table.
I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would
distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.
We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered.
As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.
As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities
arranged for us, we did not spend much time dining.
When we left, there were still about one third of unconsumed food on the table.
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us.
We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant owner.
When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us
wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were really being too busybody.
"We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind,"
my colleague Gui told the old ladies.
The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her handphone out and
made a call to someone.
After a while, a man in uniform claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organisation arrived.
Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Mark fine.
We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly apologised to the officer.
The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS
YOURS, BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY.
THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES."
Our faces turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts.
The mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame.
WE REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from country which is not very rich in resources.
To save face, we order large quantities and also waste food when we give others a treat.
THIS LESSON TAUGHT US TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.
My colleague photostated the fine ticket and gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir.
All of us kept it and pasted on our wall to remind us that we shall never be wasteful.
Friday, September 23, 2011
A father's love .....
My colleague Neville emailed me this touching story:
My dad only had one eye. I hated him... He was such an embarrassment.
He cooked for students and teachers to support the family.
There was this one day during elementary school where my dad came to say hello to me.
I was so embarrassed.
How could he do this to me?
I ignored him, threw him a hateful look and ran out.
The next day at school one of my classmates said, "EEEE, your dad only has one eye!"
I wanted to bury myself
I also wanted my dad to just disappear.
I confronted him that day and said: " If you're only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?"
My dad did not respond....
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to his feelings.
I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with him.
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married.
I bought a house of my own.
I had kids of my own.
I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my father came to visit me.
He hadn't seen me in years and he didn't even meet his grandchildren.
When he stood by the door, my children laughed at him, and I yelled at him for coming over uninvited.
I screamed at him, "How dare you come to my house and scare my children!"
GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!"
And to this, my father quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,"
And he disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house..
So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbours said that he died.
I did not shed a single tear.
They handed me a letter that he had wanted me to have.
"My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion.
But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye.
As a father, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye.
So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
With all my love to you,
Your father. "
P/S: Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day will be their last, or your own.
Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones
Because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure. And closure usually brings Peace...
My dad only had one eye. I hated him... He was such an embarrassment.
He cooked for students and teachers to support the family.
There was this one day during elementary school where my dad came to say hello to me.
I was so embarrassed.
How could he do this to me?
I ignored him, threw him a hateful look and ran out.
The next day at school one of my classmates said, "EEEE, your dad only has one eye!"
I wanted to bury myself
I also wanted my dad to just disappear.
I confronted him that day and said: " If you're only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?"
My dad did not respond....
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to his feelings.
I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with him.
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married.
I bought a house of my own.
I had kids of my own.
I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my father came to visit me.
He hadn't seen me in years and he didn't even meet his grandchildren.
When he stood by the door, my children laughed at him, and I yelled at him for coming over uninvited.
I screamed at him, "How dare you come to my house and scare my children!"
GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!"
And to this, my father quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,"
And he disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house..
So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbours said that he died.
I did not shed a single tear.
They handed me a letter that he had wanted me to have.
"My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion.
But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye.
As a father, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye.
So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
With all my love to you,
Your father. "
P/S: Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day will be their last, or your own.
Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones
Because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure. And closure usually brings Peace...
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Alluring Mongolia ...
After spending the last eight years in Dubai, Filipino engineer Dennis Pimentel has turned to Mongolia to join the exodus of expatriate hands to magnetic Oyu Tolgoi mine.
"I like the place the locals call it OT just like UB for Ulan Bator because it's cold and the people are warm...they are very hospitable."
As we bumped into each other at Seoul airport (I was returning to KL from UB while he was going to UB), Pimentel said he needed the job to support his wife and the couple's two sons, aged 12 and 16, in Manila.
"I design roads in OT (Oyu Tolgoi) but I don't know when the project will end, it's a contract," said the 37-year-old who has been in Mongolia over the past five months.
OT is the world's largest undeveloped copper-gold project and is located in the South Gobi region of Mongolia, approximately 550km south of the capital Ulan Bator (locals call it Ulaanbaatar) and 80km north of the Mongolia-China border.
Pimentel has grown fond of Mongolia which has only 2.9 million people, almost half of them living in the capital built for 500,000.
"Despite the mineral rich status, the Mongolians are environmental-conscious and want to preserve the Gobi desert," he said.
Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold said, the mining industry had been intensively developing the country and a massive work on putting such world class deposits as OT copper mine and Tavan Togoi coal deposit into economic turnover have been actively conducted, attracting the interest of many countries.
"Mongolia finds itself among countries with relatively high rates of economic growth," he told the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA)Executive Board Meeting (EBM) here last Tuesday.
"If in 2010, our economy enjoyed six per cent growth rate, in the first
quarter of 2011, it increased to 9.7 per cent," he said.
Construction of high-rise buildings could be seen everywhere in the capital.
The OT mine or Turquoise Hill is a combined open pit and underground mining
project in Khanbogd sum within the south Gobi Desert.
It is developed as a joint venture involving the Ivanhoe Mines of Canada,
Australia's Rio Tinto and the Mongolian Government.
The production is scheduled to begin in 2013.
The OT mining project is the largest financial undertaking in Mongolia's history and is expected, upon completion, to account for more than 30 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
Last year, the number of processing factories in the country increased by 10
per cent.
Noting the intense speed in growth of the trade and services sector, Batbold
said Mongolia was also proud of the robust penetration of information technologies.
"A historic contribution of our nomadic ancestors to the world's culture was
the communication system of 'morin urtuu's' or horse relay station that the Mongolians had organised in 13th-14th centuries to link China, Mongolia, Russia
and Europe," he said.
Mongolian National News Agency (Montsame) General Director T. Baasansuren said the economic future of Mongolia looked bright.
"The government has identified 17 large deposits of oil, copper, fluorite, molybdenum, gold, uranium, etc...
"Bilateral and multilateral talks on joint exploration of these deposits have been going on intensively," he said, expressing confidence that the development of mining would completely change the structure of Mongolia's economy.
"According to estimates of the international investment bank, JP Morgan, Mongolia's GDP will grow not less than by 15 per cent between 2011 and 2015.
"Hence in 2016, Mongolia's GDP per capita will increase from the current USD$2,000 to USD$8,000.
"When the Oyu Tolgoi copper deposit which attracted large international attention is put into exploration in 2013, Mongolia will supply between three
and five per cent of the world's copper," said Baasansuren.
"I like the place the locals call it OT just like UB for Ulan Bator because it's cold and the people are warm...they are very hospitable."
As we bumped into each other at Seoul airport (I was returning to KL from UB while he was going to UB), Pimentel said he needed the job to support his wife and the couple's two sons, aged 12 and 16, in Manila.
"I design roads in OT (Oyu Tolgoi) but I don't know when the project will end, it's a contract," said the 37-year-old who has been in Mongolia over the past five months.
OT is the world's largest undeveloped copper-gold project and is located in the South Gobi region of Mongolia, approximately 550km south of the capital Ulan Bator (locals call it Ulaanbaatar) and 80km north of the Mongolia-China border.
Pimentel has grown fond of Mongolia which has only 2.9 million people, almost half of them living in the capital built for 500,000.
"Despite the mineral rich status, the Mongolians are environmental-conscious and want to preserve the Gobi desert," he said.
Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold said, the mining industry had been intensively developing the country and a massive work on putting such world class deposits as OT copper mine and Tavan Togoi coal deposit into economic turnover have been actively conducted, attracting the interest of many countries.
"Mongolia finds itself among countries with relatively high rates of economic growth," he told the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA)Executive Board Meeting (EBM) here last Tuesday.
"If in 2010, our economy enjoyed six per cent growth rate, in the first
quarter of 2011, it increased to 9.7 per cent," he said.
Construction of high-rise buildings could be seen everywhere in the capital.
The OT mine or Turquoise Hill is a combined open pit and underground mining
project in Khanbogd sum within the south Gobi Desert.
It is developed as a joint venture involving the Ivanhoe Mines of Canada,
Australia's Rio Tinto and the Mongolian Government.
The production is scheduled to begin in 2013.
The OT mining project is the largest financial undertaking in Mongolia's history and is expected, upon completion, to account for more than 30 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
Last year, the number of processing factories in the country increased by 10
per cent.
Noting the intense speed in growth of the trade and services sector, Batbold
said Mongolia was also proud of the robust penetration of information technologies.
"A historic contribution of our nomadic ancestors to the world's culture was
the communication system of 'morin urtuu's' or horse relay station that the Mongolians had organised in 13th-14th centuries to link China, Mongolia, Russia
and Europe," he said.
Mongolian National News Agency (Montsame) General Director T. Baasansuren said the economic future of Mongolia looked bright.
"The government has identified 17 large deposits of oil, copper, fluorite, molybdenum, gold, uranium, etc...
"Bilateral and multilateral talks on joint exploration of these deposits have been going on intensively," he said, expressing confidence that the development of mining would completely change the structure of Mongolia's economy.
"According to estimates of the international investment bank, JP Morgan, Mongolia's GDP will grow not less than by 15 per cent between 2011 and 2015.
"Hence in 2016, Mongolia's GDP per capita will increase from the current USD$2,000 to USD$8,000.
"When the Oyu Tolgoi copper deposit which attracted large international attention is put into exploration in 2013, Mongolia will supply between three
and five per cent of the world's copper," said Baasansuren.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
United against copyright ...
The Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA) will have to collectively fight the copyright issue instead of letting members to deal with it on their own, said OANA president Hilmi Bengi.
Wrapping-up a two-day OANA Executive Board meeting in Ulan Bator today (Wednesday), Bengi said the problem had greatly affected income of news agencies operating on commercial basis.
"The Internet news aggregators gather our output and give them out for free," said Bengi, adding that he hoped that OANA could have a separate meeting to discuss the issue.
He said as the meeting was for the executive board, its participation and issues raised were rather restricted.
However Bengi said country reports presented by every board member were useful as they could share experience especially in new products like television service.
Members also picked out winners for a photo contest held on the sidelines of the meeting. Kyodo won the grand award and special prize for its submission on tsunami, Anadolu for best picture while the other special prize went to Montsame.
The board members later met Mongolian Parliament Speaker D.Demberel at Parliament House.
The 11-member board comprises of Anadolu of Turkey as president, four vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS (Russia) and IRNA (Iran). The remaining members are Yonhap South Korea, Press Trust of India (PTI), Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and Montsame (Mongolia).
Formed in 1961 to encourage the free flow of news and information exchange among news agencies in Asia-Pacific, the 43-strong OANA will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its birth place Bangkok in December.
Wrapping-up a two-day OANA Executive Board meeting in Ulan Bator today (Wednesday), Bengi said the problem had greatly affected income of news agencies operating on commercial basis.
"The Internet news aggregators gather our output and give them out for free," said Bengi, adding that he hoped that OANA could have a separate meeting to discuss the issue.
He said as the meeting was for the executive board, its participation and issues raised were rather restricted.
However Bengi said country reports presented by every board member were useful as they could share experience especially in new products like television service.
Members also picked out winners for a photo contest held on the sidelines of the meeting. Kyodo won the grand award and special prize for its submission on tsunami, Anadolu for best picture while the other special prize went to Montsame.
The board members later met Mongolian Parliament Speaker D.Demberel at Parliament House.
The 11-member board comprises of Anadolu of Turkey as president, four vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS (Russia) and IRNA (Iran). The remaining members are Yonhap South Korea, Press Trust of India (PTI), Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and Montsame (Mongolia).
Formed in 1961 to encourage the free flow of news and information exchange among news agencies in Asia-Pacific, the 43-strong OANA will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its birth place Bangkok in December.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Bangkok anniversary bash for OANA
A special event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) will be held in December at its birthplace -- Bangkok.
OANA President Hilmi Bengi made the announcement at the start of the organization's 33rd executive board meeting in Ulan Bator today (Tuesday).
He thanked the Thai News Agency (TNA) for agreeing to host the celebration,
which Bengi described as "the most important event".
OANA was formed with the backing of UNESCO in December 1961, as an effort to facilitate a free flow of news and information in Asia and the Pacific.
TNA Editor-in-Chief for Asean News Division Noraphon Pacharoen said the Thai
agency has slated Dec 7 to 9, for the OANA event.
Mongolian Prime Minister S.Batbold who addressed the meeting, said the role, significance, prestige and influence of the organization that unifies the region's news agencies was high.
"News agencies have always been playing important roles in countries' history. Their importance remained unchanged today," he said.
The meeting approved National News Agency (NNA)of Lebanon's application for membership, boosting the number to 43 news agencies from 34 countries.
It also reviewed decisions made at the last OANA General Assembly in Istanbul (November) and was briefed by Anadolu of Turkey on the new OANA website.
The 11-member board comprised Anadolu of Turkey as president, four vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS(Russia) and IRNA (Iran).
The remaining members are Yonhap South Korea, Press Trust of India(PTI), Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and Montsame (Mongolia).
OANA President Hilmi Bengi made the announcement at the start of the organization's 33rd executive board meeting in Ulan Bator today (Tuesday).
He thanked the Thai News Agency (TNA) for agreeing to host the celebration,
which Bengi described as "the most important event".
OANA was formed with the backing of UNESCO in December 1961, as an effort to facilitate a free flow of news and information in Asia and the Pacific.
TNA Editor-in-Chief for Asean News Division Noraphon Pacharoen said the Thai
agency has slated Dec 7 to 9, for the OANA event.
Mongolian Prime Minister S.Batbold who addressed the meeting, said the role, significance, prestige and influence of the organization that unifies the region's news agencies was high.
"News agencies have always been playing important roles in countries' history. Their importance remained unchanged today," he said.
The meeting approved National News Agency (NNA)of Lebanon's application for membership, boosting the number to 43 news agencies from 34 countries.
It also reviewed decisions made at the last OANA General Assembly in Istanbul (November) and was briefed by Anadolu of Turkey on the new OANA website.
The 11-member board comprised Anadolu of Turkey as president, four vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS(Russia) and IRNA (Iran).
The remaining members are Yonhap South Korea, Press Trust of India(PTI), Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and Montsame (Mongolia).
Monday, June 27, 2011
OANA holds meeting in Ulan Bator ...
Leading Asia-Pacific news agencies are meeting in this Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator this week to enhance cooperation as content providers to cater for a wide range of clients with high expectations.
The 33rd Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA)Executive Board
Meeting will look into ways of how to improve the news content disseminated
among member countries.
It will also focus on multimedia news exchange management, moving forward
from just news and photo exchanges that had long been the focus of the 42-member
organisation.
Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold is scheduled to address the meeting on
Tuesday after opening remarks by new OANA President Hilmi Bengi, elected at the
OANA General Assembly in Istanbul, last November.
T. Baasansuren, president of host Mongolian news agency Montsame, in a joint
invitation with Bengi, said they were confident that the Ulan Bator meeting
would foster relations and interaction among member agencies.
The upcoming meeting was special because it coincided with the 50th
anniversary of OANA and the 90th anniversary of Montsame, they said.
The 11-member board comprises Anadolu of Turkey, as president, four
vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS
(Russia) and IRNA (Iran).
The remaining members are Yonhap (South Korea), Press Trust of India (PTI),
Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and
Montsame (Mongolia).
Bernama is represented by General Manager Datuk Hasnul Hassan who had
proposed a video clip exchange as a way forward for member agencies to enhance
multimedia cooperation.
Bernama has conducted a trial run for the video exchange or clearing house
with four member agencies, including Montsame, in recent months.
The 33rd Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA)Executive Board
Meeting will look into ways of how to improve the news content disseminated
among member countries.
It will also focus on multimedia news exchange management, moving forward
from just news and photo exchanges that had long been the focus of the 42-member
organisation.
Mongolian Prime Minister S. Batbold is scheduled to address the meeting on
Tuesday after opening remarks by new OANA President Hilmi Bengi, elected at the
OANA General Assembly in Istanbul, last November.
T. Baasansuren, president of host Mongolian news agency Montsame, in a joint
invitation with Bengi, said they were confident that the Ulan Bator meeting
would foster relations and interaction among member agencies.
The upcoming meeting was special because it coincided with the 50th
anniversary of OANA and the 90th anniversary of Montsame, they said.
The 11-member board comprises Anadolu of Turkey, as president, four
vice-presidents, namely Bernama (Malaysia), Antara (Indonesia), Itar-TASS
(Russia) and IRNA (Iran).
The remaining members are Yonhap (South Korea), Press Trust of India (PTI),
Azertaj (Azerbaijan), Australian Associated Press (AAP), Xinhua (China) and
Montsame (Mongolia).
Bernama is represented by General Manager Datuk Hasnul Hassan who had
proposed a video clip exchange as a way forward for member agencies to enhance
multimedia cooperation.
Bernama has conducted a trial run for the video exchange or clearing house
with four member agencies, including Montsame, in recent months.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Lessons from Japan ...
A friend emailed me about 10 things to learn from the destruction of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been alleviated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly
*One CNN reporter mentioned he interviewed an elderly lady who had lost her house and everything but still offered him some candy during the interview.
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been alleviated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly
*One CNN reporter mentioned he interviewed an elderly lady who had lost her house and everything but still offered him some candy during the interview.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Congratulations...
Congratulations to Bernama staff who will receive the Excellence Service Award for 2010. The list of recipients was announced today.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Getting on to my 5 series….
With so many things going on around me, I gracefully entered my ‘5 series’ with optimism of the challenges ahead.
The roads may be bumpy or smooth but I wouldn’t know how far the journey will be.
All I know is I am getting nearer to my destination as the years go by.
As I turn 50 today, my thoughts go to the five stars in my signature.
I have often been asked about their significance.
That’s not difficult to explain – one star each for my three children, my wife and I.
So wherever I go especially on overseas trips, they will always be with me.
The roads may be bumpy or smooth but I wouldn’t know how far the journey will be.
All I know is I am getting nearer to my destination as the years go by.
As I turn 50 today, my thoughts go to the five stars in my signature.
I have often been asked about their significance.
That’s not difficult to explain – one star each for my three children, my wife and I.
So wherever I go especially on overseas trips, they will always be with me.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Simply awesome..
These motivational words about success were clearly written on the wall of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Keramat.
The school held an excellence award presentation this morning to reward its outstanding students.
The ceremony coincided with the school's 31st parent-teachers association annual general meeting.
Dressed in her new baju kurung, my daughter Dina looked resplendent as she drove me to the school. She had told me that she would be getting a prize for her SPM achievement.
This proud father would not want to miss the opportunity, waiting excitedly to the event. But what turned out was a big surprise indeed.
Dina went up the stage not one but three times to collect her awards.
And each time her name was called, it carried along my name -- three times!!!
I was so touched and of course, proud.
It made me even prouder to know that she was the most outstanding student in the school when she was awarded the 'Anugerah Tokoh Pelajar 2010' (Student Personality Award 2010).
As she stood on stage to receive the award, the master-of-ceremony read the following citation:
The award recipient is Diyanah Zufazlin bt Ahmad Zukiman. This SMART jewel shines in various fields. She is liked by teachers and idolized by many students in school because of her character. It is no surprise that she has received various awards such as Admirable Personality and Excellent Prefect. She is committed in discharging her duties as school prefect for five years she had been in school and was appointed as head girl for the 2009/2010 session.
In co-curriculum, she was active and excelled in softball and hockey. She represented the school and district in the sports at the Gombak District School Sports Council and Selangor School Sports Council competitions. She also held the post of chairman and vice chairman in various school clubs and societies.
23 March 2011 will be a date to remember for her when she received her excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results with 6As.
Diyanah Zufazlin has proven that despite being active in co-curriculum activities, she had successfully balanced it with an excellent academic achievement.
Thus, the school awards her with ‘Anugerah Tokoh Pelajar 2010’ (Student Personality Award 2010).
The school held an excellence award presentation this morning to reward its outstanding students.
The ceremony coincided with the school's 31st parent-teachers association annual general meeting.
Dressed in her new baju kurung, my daughter Dina looked resplendent as she drove me to the school. She had told me that she would be getting a prize for her SPM achievement.
This proud father would not want to miss the opportunity, waiting excitedly to the event. But what turned out was a big surprise indeed.
Dina went up the stage not one but three times to collect her awards.
And each time her name was called, it carried along my name -- three times!!!
I was so touched and of course, proud.
It made me even prouder to know that she was the most outstanding student in the school when she was awarded the 'Anugerah Tokoh Pelajar 2010' (Student Personality Award 2010).
As she stood on stage to receive the award, the master-of-ceremony read the following citation:
The award recipient is Diyanah Zufazlin bt Ahmad Zukiman. This SMART jewel shines in various fields. She is liked by teachers and idolized by many students in school because of her character. It is no surprise that she has received various awards such as Admirable Personality and Excellent Prefect. She is committed in discharging her duties as school prefect for five years she had been in school and was appointed as head girl for the 2009/2010 session.
In co-curriculum, she was active and excelled in softball and hockey. She represented the school and district in the sports at the Gombak District School Sports Council and Selangor School Sports Council competitions. She also held the post of chairman and vice chairman in various school clubs and societies.
23 March 2011 will be a date to remember for her when she received her excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results with 6As.
Diyanah Zufazlin has proven that despite being active in co-curriculum activities, she had successfully balanced it with an excellent academic achievement.
Thus, the school awards her with ‘Anugerah Tokoh Pelajar 2010’ (Student Personality Award 2010).
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
My 'little girl' brings big joy...
My little girl had a big surprise when she collected her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results -- 6As.
So overwhemingly surprised that Dina felt she was dreaming.
"Is it ok Pa?" she asked me excitedly over the phone to inform me about her achievement.
Okay? It was more than okay to me.
I am so proud of her.
Before she went to get the result this morning, I had told her that whatever it is, we must be thankful to Allah.
Just a few days ago, she passed her driving test on her first try.
I sense that she had kept the excitement down as the bigger suspense was the SPM result.
Having obtained the licence, she requested to drive to school and pleaded with us not to accompany her.
She wanted to be with her friends. They had been close friends who stuck to one another like glue over years of secondary schooling that has now become memories.
Although Dina humbly says she had not targeted any A, she had studied hard for the school-end examinations.
As the examinations drew nearer, she would stay up into the wee hours of the night to revise the subjects. Besides the tougher subjects like Mathematics, she had to deal with the Sciences -- Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
There were days when she went to school without sleep.
Looking back, Dina said the last-minute preparation was pleasantly rewarding.
While friends can be a source of inspiration, she says believing in Allah is the key to success.
Apart from revision, she frequently did the 'solat hajat' to prepare for the examination.
As my little girl seeks to pursue her studies, I thanked Allah for all the blessings that have been showered to the family.
Dina is our youngest after Adam, now pursuing diploma in tourism, and Yasmin, a mass communication graduate.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Binding ties with Pyongyang...
Almost 20 years after Malaysia and North Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in information, officials from both countries met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to discuss its progress.
Led by Vice Chairman of Public Information Committee Jong Yong Chol, the four-man North Korean side expressed optimism to continue cooperation with Malaysia.
Possible cooperation were exchange of radio, television, film and documentary programmes.
Bernama, the Malaysian National News Agency, is ready to step up news exchange with Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), such as on sports, economic and culture. Both are members of the Organisation of Asia Pacific News Agencies (OANA).
Apart from talks at Angkasapuri, the North Korean delegation visited Radio and Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and Wisma Bernama at Jalan Tun Razak today. They even stayed for lunch before heading for Putrajaya to visit the federal administrative capital.
During his visit to Bernama, Jong was surprised when I showed him photographs of the 1992 meeting in Pyongyang.
I was a young reporter then who had accompanied the Information Minister, the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat (still Datuk at the time) to Pyongyang for the talks.
It was a memorable trip partly because I was a last-minute inclusion in the minister's delegation that also visited Fukuoka in Japan.
In a way, it reflected the importance of Bernama to report about such landmark event in Pyongyang.
I remember taking along my Olivetti typewriter to file reports. After typing down the stories, I had to look around for telex facility to relay the stories home.
The minister managed to convince the North Korean side to take us up to Panmunjom, at the border of North and South Korea -- a trip that taught me a lot about international relations.
We even met the late North Korean President Kim Il-sung and had a group photograph with him, which appeared prominently on the front-page of the leading newspaper on 26 May, 1992.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Landmark Bernama-Antara summit...
After the opening of Bernama-Antara Summit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, senior officials of the two agencies headed for Melaka for the summit discussion.
Meeting at the Puteri Resort in Ayer Keroh, Melaka this morning, Bernama General Manager Hasnul Hassan and Antara's Editor-in-Chief Saiful Hadi led their respective sides.
On the agenda of the first-ever summit were possible areas of cooperation to bolster ties between the two agencies.
This include exchange of reporters and photographers, photography on Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, joint photography exhibitions and the publication of photography collection.
Other collaborations include the joint publication of Sinergi, a quarterly magazine and the alternate hosting of the Bernama-Antara Summit.
The publication of a coffee table book on cultural similarities of Malaysia and Indonesia was also explored.
Another significant collaboration is the exchange of visual footages between Bernama TV and Antara TV, set to be launched in June.
The summit was a follow up of the Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Committee Meeting on Information and Communication held in Kuala Lumpur last year.
In conjunction with the summit, a half-day seminar on bridging ties between Malaysia and Indonesia was held.
Melaka Chief Minister Ali Rustam delivered the keynote highlighting the various sectors being pursued to further develop the state.
Antara will host next year's summit.
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