KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), will sponsor the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributions for a year for part-time journalists or stringers registered with various media organisations in the country starting July 1.
Its minister Fahmi Fadzil announced this in his speech at the 2024 National Journalists' Day (Hawana) celebration in Kuching, Sarawak today.
"This means the first year of the (Perkeso) contributions will be fully sponsored by the ministry through Bernama.
"Therefore, I hope all registered media organisations to update the information (on stringers associated with their organisations) to facilitate the channeling of assistance from the ministry." he said.
Based on records by the Information Department, Fahmi said there are a total of 565 stringers registered with media organisations in the country.
Of the total, 538 of them did not have Perkeso contributions, although they are eligible to register for them. He added that there are 11,235 media practitioners registered with the Information Department.
In his speech, Fahmi also announced that the Rahmah rebate incentive for media practitioners would be implemented for the second year this year.
He said media practitioners will enjoy a one-month rebate on their mobile phone bills in August.