A birthday-inspired reunion brought generations together, with former bosses and junior colleagues meeting as friends.
By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
They once worked together under the pressure of breaking news and unforgiving deadlines. On November 7, retirees and former staff of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), alongside colleagues still serving the organisation, gathered for the Bernama Buddies reunion to celebrate friendships across generations.
Among those who made the journey was former Bernama sub-editor Zainon Derois, affectionately known as Kak Zainon, who had just turned 80. Her sister travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Segamat, Johor, to bring her to the reunion and take her home afterwards.
Datuk Seri Boon Som Inong, a former senator who served two terms in the Dewan Negara from December 2010 to December 2016, and his wife came from Alor Setar.
For organiser Hafizah Kamaruddin, former Senior Editor of Bernama’s Multimedia Desk, those efforts to attend were moving. So, too, was watching familiar workplace hierarchies give way to easy companionship.
“When we retired, we are equal,” she said.
Among those present were Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, who had served as Bernama chairman, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, and former chief executive officer Datuk Roslan Ariffin.
Former Bernama chairman, CEO and editor-in-chief Datuk Seri Azman Ujang (extreme left) join colleagues at the Bernama Buddies reunion at RhR Kitchen on November 7, 2026.
Among those attending were former editors-in-chief Jamalludin Muhammad, Abdul Rahman Ahmad and Datuk Yong Soo Heong, who had also served as general manager.
They were joined by Nor Faridah Abdul Rashid, deputy editor-in-chief of the Economic Service, and Mikhail Raj, former deputy editor-in-chief of the Economic Service, who continues to serve Bernama on a contract basis.
For an afternoon, the titles mattered less than the pleasure of being together.
A birthday idea that grew
Hafizah said the gathering began with a suggestion from Toh Puan Anna Ranee to meet because one of the members, Zainoor Sulaiman, former Bernama executive editor’s birthday was approaching. Initially, they considered their usual meeting place, the Royal Selangor Golf Club.
The conversation soon turned to a larger reunion.
Reunion organiser Hafizah Kamaruddin (left) with former Bernama sub-editor Zainon Derois, who had just turned 80 and travelled from Segamat, Johor, to join the Bernama Buddies gathering on November 7, 2026.
Some former colleagues had previously discussed holding a gathering at Bernama, but approvals, catering arrangements and costs presented practical challenges.
Hafizah and Anna had recently organised a reunion at RhR Kitchen for women graduates of UiTM’s mass communication programme, spanning its first intake through the 1983 batch. At RM30 a person, that event offered an affordable model.
They chose the same venue for Bernama Buddies. With reservations required a month ahead, Hafizah booked four tables even though two had yet to be filled.
“The rewarding part is seeing everyone so happy to meet old colleagues and friends,” she said.
Boon, although never a Bernama employee, had worked as a foreign correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), with an office at Wisma Bernama. His participation in numerous activities with Bernama staff over the years had made him a close friend.
Datuk Seri Boon Som Inong (left), Tham Choy Lin (centre) and Datuk Yong Soo Heong catch up at the Bernama Buddies reunion at RhR Kitchen on November 7, 2026.
Others had wanted to attend but had prior commitments, Hafizah said.
What particularly touched her was seeing younger colleagues treating seniors like brothers and sisters. Some had never worked together because they belonged to different generations, yet they spoke with the ease of old friends.
Seeing Azman, Dato’ Aziz Bahaman (one of the pioneer Bernama)staff members former Bernama journalist and former International Islamic University Malaysia rector Prof Datuk Seri Syed Arabi Idid, enjoying the occasion added to her satisfaction.
Bernama Buddies mark birthdays with a shared cake-cutting celebration during their reunion at RhR Kitchen on November 7, 2026.
More than shared deadlines
For Nor Faridah, seeing the cheerfulness of former younger colleagues and the much older seniors who had aged gracefully made the occasion especially nostalgic.
Reflecting on 38 years at Bernama, she said the organisation had taught her about teamwork, friendship, camaraderie and ukhuwah, a sense of kinship.
Above all, it had given her confidence that she would have companionship and support through life’s difficulties.
“In bad times and good times, in sickness and in health, there will always be someone beside me! In Syaa Allah,” she said.
Bernama deputy editor-in-chiefs of the Economic Service Nor Faridah Abdul Rashid (seated, left) and Salbiah Said (seated, right) reunite with colleagues at the Bernama Buddies gathering at RhR Kitchen on November 7, 2026.
Former deputy editor-in-chief of the Economic Service Salbiah Said similarly recalled the support colleagues gave one another through demanding assignments, tight deadlines and long working hours.
“Journalism was never an easy profession, but we faced its challenges together,” she said.
“Beyond the stories we pursued, it was the camaraderie, teamwork and friendships that made those years memorable.”
The reunion showed how much of that warmth remained.
Shared smiles and finger-heart gestures capture the warmth of friendship as colleagues pose at the Bernama Buddies reunion at RhR Kitchen on November 7, 2026.
What touched me most was seeing familiar faces, sharing laughter and realising that, despite the passage of time, the friendship and warmth remain unchanged,” Salbiah said.
For her, shared experiences and memories explain why those friendships have endured.
“We may have left the organisation, but we never really left one another,” she said.
Old-time buddies Mikhail Raj (left) and Datuk Yong Soo Heong reconnect at the Bernama Buddies reunion at RhR Kitchen on November 7, 2026, celebrating a friendship forged through years in journalism.
Respect earned at the editor’s desk
Meanwhile, Yong Soo Heong’s reflections offered an insight into how lasting bonds were nurtured at work.
His principle as an editor was to help salvage a reporter’s story, recognising the effort that might have gone into completing it.
“In the process, the younger journalists learnt how to improve and I gained their respect,” he said.
He recalled how the readiness of some senior colleagues to reject stories could demoralise young reporters. His approach was to help them improve their work.
It was a reminder that newsroom relationships were shaped through everyday decisions, including an editor’s willingness to work through a struggling reporter’s draft and help make it better.
At the reunion, those working relationships found new expression in conversations between generations, laughter among old friends and journeys made simply to be there.
Salbiah captured the feeling: “Once colleagues, always friends. Once a Bernamaian, always a Bernamaian!”
- TNS NEWS