Kuala Lumpur: The government has allocated RM53,100 this year for two welfare initiatives aimed at part-time media practitioners. These initiatives include the extension of the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and contributions to the i-Saraan scheme under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that RM37,170 of the total allocation was designated for extending SKSPS coverage. This extension benefitted 531 part-time media practitioners for a year. The remaining RM15,930 was allocated for i-Saraan EPF contributions. Fahmi highlighted that the initiative was a collaborative effort between the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and Socso.

During his welcoming speech at the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebration held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), Fahmi elaborated on the benefits offered under the SKSPS. These benefits include medical benefits, temporary and permanent disablement benefits, dependants’ benefits, funeral management benefits, and a constant attendance allowance.

The HAWANA 2025 event, themed ‘Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics’, was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The event saw the participation of approximately 1,000 media practitioners from both Malaysia and abroad.