Gobind mum on rumoured appointment of ex-Rocket editor to Bernama

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 27 Sep 2018 5:46PM · 1 Comments

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo has kept silent on whether the former editor-in-chief of DAP organ The Rocket has been appointed as CEO of Bernama. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 27, 2018.

COMMUNICATIONS and Multimedia Minister Gobind Deo Singh has declined to confirm whether former editor-in-chief of DAP organ The Rocket has been appointed as CEO of Bernama.

Journalist Wan Hamidi Hamid has been named by several reports, quoting unnamed sources, as the frontrunner to run the government-funded news agency.

“We hope we will make an announcement, hopefully by next week,” Gobind told reporters in Putrajaya today.

On whether Wan Hamidi is the candidate or whether there are other candidates, he replied: “We will make an announcement. Wait.”

The post of CEO has been traditionally appointed from within the ranks of the national news agency.

Wan Hamidi, currently deputy director of DAP-linked think-tank Research for Social Advancement (Refsa), had worked with several media companies, including five years at MCA-owned The Star in the 1990s.

He declined to comment when contacted today.

Bernama and national broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia is expected to merge soon after instructions by Gobind to both agencies to submit a paper on the proposal.

Bersatu politician and former minister of information Rais Yatim has said he was not in favour of Wan Hamidi’s appointment.

“Bernama should have a neutral guy there,” he was quoted as saying by The Star last week.

“I think it’s good if you have a seasoned journalist from one of the news houses but not a politically savvy personality,” he said. – September 27, 2018.

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Comments

  • Since coming into power, PH has been dismantling BNs political appointees at various GLC and government authorities, do why now start appointing a politically savvy personality to head Bernama.
    Sorry, on this not I believe that an experienced newsman with extensive media & management skills/background should be appointed to the position to enhance the image and quality of the wire service..
    Then again if a merger is being planned with RTM, why rush now with the appointment... that can wait until a new ceo is appointed to run the RTM-Bernama merged entity..

    Posted 7 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply