Media practitioners receive food aid
KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association (KKJA) chairman Yong Ted Phen has expressed gratitude to Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Sabah director Karunanithy Subbiah and his team for contributing food baskets to media practitioners affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO).
Yong said journalists and editors were not spared from the impact of Covid-19.
“This is especially true for New Sabah Times that officially ceased operation at the end of last year.
“We are indeed moved by MACC’s generosity in giving away food baskets to media practitioners, particularly during these trying times,” he said after handing over the donation to the recipients under KKJA here yesterday.
He said Karunanithy through Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Datuk Mugunthan Vanar and his committee had made arrangement to distribute the food baskets to eligible journalists and editors.
Mugunthan has subsequently requested KKJA to nominate its members for the food aid.
As some of the beneficiaries under KKJA have mobility problems, Yong personally delivered the food baskets to their homes yesterday, including to Soon Kim Lin.
Soon, 79, thanked MACC for the food aid as well as praised the agency for its efficacy in combating corrupt practices.
Soon had started working in the news industry before Malaysia gained independence. He retired in June 2009 after serving 40 years as both a journalist and editor.
“The donation by MACC shows that the agency cares about the welfare of media practitioners, and more importantly, recognizes our contribution to the society.
“We are truly touched and thankful for the gesture.”
He also hoped that Karunanithy and his officers and all media practitioners would take precautionary measures and maintain personal hygiene to avoid contracting Covid-19.
“We hope that the pandemic will end soon for our lives to return to normalcy.”