As the country embraces a new Malaysia and keeps up with developments and progress, the welfare of journalists seems to have been forgotten.
So says the National Press Club of Malaysia (NPC) president Datuk Ahirudin Attan as he hopes Fight For Change 2019 will pave the way for greater awareness about the role of journalists and why they should be allowed to carry out their duties without fear or favour.
“While progress is on the way, we seem to have forgotten to take good care of the group of people who contributed to the growth of this nation,” said Ahirudin.
“My deputy (Haresh Deol) is showing the way. We at NPC share his message that we will try almost anything to champion the welfare of journalists in Malaysia.”
Haresh, co-founder and editor of Twentytwo13, will take on professional fighter Shareh ‘The Jeneral’ Nasrullah in Fight For Change 2019 on Nov 23 at the Cobra Club in Petaling Jaya.
Co-organised by Twentytwo13 and the Malaysia Mixed Martial Arts Association (MASMMAA) and supported by NPC, the event is to change the way people view mixed martial arts (MMA) and to champion the welfare of journalists in Malaysia.
Several fights will be held leading up to the main event between Haresh and Shareh of Lekir Fitness and MMA Academy.
Proceeds from the event will be channeled to NPC’s Journalist Welfare Fund and to MASMMAA for its youth development programme.
“WHAT HARESH IS DOING MAY BE RADICAL BUT WE ARE TOTALLY WITH HIM IN SAYING THAT IF WE NEED TO GET OURSELVES BEATEN UP TO CHAMPION THE WELFARE OF JOURNALISTS, WE WILL DO SO.”
“Perhaps this event will encourage other people to do good things for journalists, like the current government working on the long-awaited Media Council. The stakeholders and powers-that-be must not give up and this event should act as an encouragement for them to get the council going.”
Ahirudin, who runs news website The Mole, said journalists must take care of their own.
“This will also spur journalists to do more to protect their welfare and that of their colleagues,” he added.
Tickets for Fight For Change 2019 are being sold at RM50 each. To purchase the tickets, sponsor the event or find out more about Fight For Change 2019, email [email protected].
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