MALAYSIA PRESS BODY HAILS GOV'T NOD FOR MILITARY TRAINING FOR MEDIA WORKERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has commended the Cabinet decision to provide military training to media personnel covering war and disaster zones via the defence ministry's Territorial Army Media Team.

In a statement on Thursday, NUJ general secretary V. Anbalagan said the move would help reduce training costs of employers, especially small print media companies, adding it is up to employers to decide whether to send their staff for such training.

"The NUJ is aware that some media companies are planning to engage private companies to train their workers, which includes preparing their staff to operate under a hostile environment," he said.

Anbalagan also expressed appreciation for the government's effort to provide physical and mental training to potential media workers who will be assigned to war and conflict zones.

He said the union also urges employers to take a special insurance policy to cover loss of life or limb, and provide their employees with bullet-proof helmets and vests.

Following the death of BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, who was killed in a Sept 2 shooting incident in Somalia, the NUJ obtained valuable feedback from local media workers who were assigned to war and conflict zones.

"We have prepared a list of standard operating procedures which include the rights and liabilities of employees and preparatory work before going for such assignments," he said.

-- BERNAMA