Kuala lumpur: Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil today visited the Malaysian National News Agency's (Bernama) Negeri Sembilan bureau, which serves as the agency's operations room for coverage of the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election. Fahmi arrived at the Bernama office at 2.20 pm and was received by Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, executive editor of News Service Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa, Negeri Sembilan bureau chief Nursyabiha Sukri, and the agency's senior management.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi was then taken on a tour of the Disaster Recovery Centre (DRC), which also houses the newsroom facilities, the Bernama TV programme recording studio, and the Bernama Radio studio. Fahmi was also briefed by Negeri Sembilan polls coverage coordinating editor Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar on Bernama's news coverage operations for the state election, which is just three days away from polling day.
He also had the opportunity to observe the news production process in the newsroom and try out Bernama's editorial system, while expressing appreciation for the role of media personnel in ensuring the public receives accurate and up-to-date information throughout the election period. "Alhamdulilah, I can see that conditions at the Bernama Negeri Sembilan Bureau are good," he said during the visit.
This Saturday, 867,151 ordinary electors will vote in the state election, which sees 103 candidates vying for the 36 seats in the State Legislative Assembly. For the latest updates on the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/n9.
Meanwhile, Fahmi told a press conference that he was satisfied with the coverage provided by the media throughout the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign so far. He said the coverage by Bernama and other media agencies had generally been good despite having to cope with a packed and frequently changing campaign schedule, as well as the challenge of campaign locations being far away in rural areas.
Fahmi said the ministry had so far not received any complaints from media personnel regarding incidents of harassment or other problems while covering the campaign. "I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the media team for their service and tireless efforts in going to the ground to engage with candidates and voters in providing quality news coverage," he said.