EX-RTM STAFF HOLD REUNION
Some have not met for 40 years
SOME 50 Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) veterans went down memory lane when they gathered at a reunion after decades of not seeing one another. The group consists of those working at the nation’s first public broadcasting agency since 1966 where most of them started their career as a reporter.
The reunion was held at Wisma Bernama here at noon yesterday.
Present were Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang and RTM veterans Datuk Aby Jamal Bachik, Rosni Rahmat and Tamimuddin Karim.
Former RTM and Bernama executive editor Zainoor Sulaiman said the event was to get together those who had worked full-time or part-time in the RTM newsroom.
He said this was an important occasion for former reporters to catch up with one another.
“Some of us have not met for 40 years. We wanted a reunion and it is great to see all of them together. I am grateful to Bernama for hosting us,” said Zainoor, who served from 1970 to 1974.
Zainoor added that the reunion might in future be held annually.
Among the ex-RTM veterans was former Bernama chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, who started as a cadet reporter in 1966 at Radio Malaysia.
Rahman reminisced about the time when the nation relied mostly on RTM for news and reporters had to overcome many challenges to submit their stories.
“I remember the challenges of
being a reporter and RTM provided a lot of new coverage to the public. We had to be quick in our reporting.
“Sometimes, we had to dictate our stories via telephone as it was the fastest way to convey our stories to our editors.
“During my time, there was no Google or Internet to help us check the facts. We needed to be accurate in our coverage.
“What I treasure the most from my RTM days was the bond of friendship I enjoyed with my colleagues. Many of us remained friends even after we left the company,” said Rahman, who served for five years with RTM
until 1971.
Bernama producer (audio visual services) Hazlinda Hamzah said her 13 years of experience with RTM expanded her knowledge in the media industry.
“I was recruited as a news presenter for Dunia Jam Sepuluh which was RTM’s first world news segment,” she said, adding that her job also entailed script-writing for the news segment.
Hazlinda, who worked with RTM from 1987 to 2000, advised those joining the media industry to volunteer for jobs that could expand their knowledge, besides seeking the guidance of their seniors at the workplace.