BERNAMA TV A JOINT-VENTURE BETWEEN BERNAMA AND PRIVATE SECTOR

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- The BERNAMA TV news channel is a
joint-venture between the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and a private
company, namely Synergy Sdn Bhd, said Information Communication and Culture
Minister Dr Rais Yatim.

He told the Lower House that under the joint-venture agreement which gave
Bernama 33 per cent free shares, the company was allowed to use the Bernama
brand name.

Dr Rais also said that court action had been initiated to recover the
outstanding debt owed by Synergy Sdn Bhd to Bernama after several reminders were
issued to the private company.

He said this in a written reply to MP Wee Choo Keong who wanted to know the
grounds for the use of the name BERNAMA TV by the company.

During the debate on the Inland Revenue Board (Amendment) 2008 Bill later,
Wee urged the government to withdraw the use of the name Bernama by the news
channel because, according to him, it was not a fully-owned television station
of Bernama nor the Ministry of Information Communication and Culture.

He also questioned Bernama's rationale in allowing a private company to owe
the news agency such a large amount of money.

"Why is the company given the opportunity to owe, use the premises and
equipment, parking space and run a debt of RM20 million to date?" he asked.
-- BERNAMA