SANDAKAN: The government has allocated RM1 million to the Tabung Kasih@Hawana this year to support media practitioners facing hardship due to illness or accidents, said Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
Since its 2023 launch, the fund has aided 441 recipients nationwide with RM1.21 million disbursed 28 in 2023, 229 in 2024, and 184 as of June 17, 2025. In Sabah, 19 journalists and former media workers have benefited.
Teo presented a contribution to Merdeka Daily News journalist Jee Cheng Yee, 35, who suffers from anemia following surgery during childbirth last year.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});She emphasised the fund, managed by BERNAMA, aims to relieve the burden of ill media workers and urged more media personnel to apply.
Cheng Yee thanked Teo, Bernama, the Sabah Journalists Association (SJA), and Sandakan Media Association (PEMASSA) for the support.
