Editing Bernama (section)

===Formation===
Bernama traces its roots to 1959 when the Malay Journalist Association on 30 March have adopted a resolution that urging the Federal Government to set up a news agency that could contribute to the "furtherance of the national interests and of understanding between Malaya and other nations".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19590330-1.2.64|title=Journalists call for Malayan news agency|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=30 March 1959|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109064445/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19590330-1.2.64|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1962, the then-Director of Information Services, Mohamed Sopiee felt that the Malayan press "should get together and run a national news agency on a cooperative basis" and insisted that the "news in this country properly collected and sent out to other countries".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19620430-1.2.31|title=Call for a news agency on co-op basis|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=30 April 1962|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109062724/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19620430-1.2.31|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 July the same year, the Malayan press and media practitioners decided in principle to create a news agency, which will be a "cooperative, non-profit making and independent organisation" and "promote the free flow of news within the country and true understand of Malaya abroad".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19620714-1.2.118|title=A national news agency decision|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=14 July 1962|access-date=9 January 2017|page=24|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109062726/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19620714-1.2.118|url-status=live}}</ref> Sadao Roy Otake, the executive news editor of Japanese news agency, [[Kyodo News Agency]] fled to Malaya on 26 November to help in forming the national news agency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621126-1.2.102|title=EXPERT ARRIVES FOR NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY PROJECT|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=26 November 1962|access-date=9 January 2017|page=11|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109084729/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621126-1.2.102|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621115-1.2.87|title=Editor to advise on agency|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=15 November 1962|access-date=9 January 2017|page=11|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109084727/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621115-1.2.87|url-status=live}}</ref> He said that the formation of the unnamed Malayan news agency as a non-profit organisation raising concern without the interference from the Government and demanded that Malaysia, known as Malaya at that time, needed a news agency to disseminate news to Malayan people and the rest of the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621202-1.2.87|title=National news agency will not make any profit|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=2 December 1962|access-date=9 January 2017|page=14|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109084728/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621202-1.2.87|url-status=live}}</ref> He also disclosed that the unnamed news agency of Malaya is expected to be launched by August 1963, a month prior to what would have been the formation of Malaysia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621229-1.2.127|title='By August' date for that news agency|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=29 December 1962|access-date=9 January 2017|page=20|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109084729/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19621229-1.2.127|url-status=live}}</ref>

The then-Deputy Prime Minister, [[Abdul Razak Hussein]] on 5 August 1965 announced that the Federal Government agreed to set up a news agency as soon as possible,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19650805-1.2.8|title=Kantor berita —BERNAMA|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=5 August 1965|access-date=10 January 2017|page=1|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110043941/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19650805-1.2.8|url-status=live}}</ref> revealing the Bernama name to the public.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19650805-1.2.9|title='Bernama' name of our news agency|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=5 August 1965|access-date=11 January 2017|page=1|archive-date=11 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111022521/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19650805-1.2.9|url-status=live}}</ref> In November, the then-Minister of Information and Broadcasting, [[Senu Abdul Rahman]] announced the establishment of Bernama,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19651113-1.2.39|title=BERNAMA di-mulai tahun hadapan|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=13 November 1965|access-date=7 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107093358/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19651113-1.2.39|url-status=live}}</ref> and expected to launch in 1966,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19661225-1.2.22|title=WAJAH BERNAMA|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=25 December 1966|access-date=7 January 2017|page=4|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107143036/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19661225-1.2.22|url-status=live}}</ref> or in February 1967 in the following three phases:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19661212-1.2.12|title='BERNAMA' DI-LANCHAR DALAM TIGA PERINGKAT|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=12 December 1966|access-date=7 January 2017|page=2|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107092550/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19661212-1.2.12|url-status=live}}</ref>

* '''Phase 1''': Recruiting officers who would operate the agency.
* '''Phase 2''': Carry out smaller tasks to send news to the local newspapers.
* '''Phase 3''': Sending correspondents to certain cities in the world.

A white paper containing a proposal to establish a news agency received approval from the [[Cabinet of Malaysia|Cabinet]] in July 1965.<ref name="Kantor">{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19660905-1.2.47|title=Kantor Berita Nasional bermula akhir tahun|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=5 September 1966|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110043941/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19660905-1.2.47|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19650722-1.2.63|title=Kantor berita yang nasional ta' lama lagi|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=22 July 1965|access-date=10 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110043944/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19650722-1.2.63|url-status=live}}</ref> D.J. Dallas, an international news specialist from [[Reuters]] was sent by [[UNESCO]] to investigate each aspects of Bernama's establishment thoroughly.<ref name="Kantor"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19660113-1.2.57|title=Pakar UNESCO tiba untok penubohan BERNAMA|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=13 January 1966|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109042423/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19660113-1.2.57|url-status=live}}</ref> The upcoming news agency will be operated in two languages, Malay and English.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19661026-1.2.86|title=Bernama news in 2 languages|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=26 October 1966|access-date=9 January 2017|page=13|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109133530/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19661026-1.2.86|url-status=live}}</ref> On 22 December 1966, the establishment of Bernama was approved by the Cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19661222-1.2.30|title=Bernama gets the go-ahead|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=22 December 1966|access-date=11 January 2017|page=7|archive-date=11 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111022520/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19661222-1.2.30|url-status=live}}</ref> It also revealed that Bernama will incorporate a new system called [[teleprinter]] connection system which will "incorporated between its office in Kuala Lumpur and its branch in Sabah and Sarawak".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19661222-1.2.6|title=BERNAMA akan menggunakan sistem hubongan radio-teleprinter|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=22 December 1966|access-date=7 January 2017|page=1|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107092549/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19661222-1.2.6|url-status=live}}</ref> A bill on Bernama's establishment was tabled to the [[Dewan Rakyat]] on 19 January 1967;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670118-1.2.7|title=Rang untok Bernama di-bentang Khamis|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=18 January 1967|access-date=7 January 2017|page=1|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107140050/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670118-1.2.7|url-status=live}}</ref> vital changes to the bill were made when Senu move important amendments to Bernama.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670127-1.2.112|title=Bernama: Vital changes made to Bill|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=27 January 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=20|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109134813/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670127-1.2.112|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670224-1.2.113|title=BERNAMA BILL: 'VIEWS OF ALL' REINSTATED|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=24 February 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=16|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109134814/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670224-1.2.113|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the bill was amended again in which the new amendment replaced the old amendment that distributed before. The new bill ensure Bernama could provide news content with "credible and accurate, without touching public, national interests and community's views".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670224-1.2.41|title=Rang undang2 kantor berita nasional di-pinda lagi|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=24 February 1967|access-date=10 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110043945/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670224-1.2.41|url-status=live}}</ref> The bill passed on 8 March 1967.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/easternsun19670308-1.2.24.1|title=SENU: Our newspapers were not dragged into joining BERNAMA|publisher=[[Eastern Sun]]|date=8 March 1967|access-date=7 January 2017|page=10|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107093359/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/easternsun19670308-1.2.24.1|url-status=live}}</ref> Senu said that the formation of Bernama is "not intended to blocked the press freedom", but instead to "developing news contents even more".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670308-1.2.41|title=Senu: Kita mesti ada kantor berita sendiri|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=8 March 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109060959/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670308-1.2.41|url-status=live}}</ref> The Dewan Rakyat assured that Bernama will be an "independent, corporate body and not a government news agency".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitsbudget19670315-1.2.48|title=Bernama will be independent|publisher=The Straits Budget|date=5 March 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=9|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109090345/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitsbudget19670315-1.2.48|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670308-1.2.32|title=Senu's pledge: Bernama will be independent|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=8 March 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109090348/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670308-1.2.32|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bernama was established under the Act of Parliament on 6 April 1967 and launched a day prior to what would have been 10th anniversary of Malaysia's independence, on 30 August 1967 and officiated by the then-[[Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister]], [[Tunku Abdul Rahman]].<ref>Sources on Bernama's establishment and launching:
* {{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670831-1.2.40|title=Bernama lahir di-iringi do'a restu|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=31 August 1967|access-date=7 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107143037/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670831-1.2.40|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670831-1.2.76|title=Bernama—Malaysia's own news agency is launched|publisher=[[The Straits Times]]|date=31 August 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=15|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109042421/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19670831-1.2.76|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670901-1.2.30|title=Mengalu2kan Bernama|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=1 September 1967|access-date=7 January 2017|page=4|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107143037/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670901-1.2.30|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/easternsun19670820-1.2.12.27|title=Tunku will launch Bernama on Aug. 30|publisher=[[Eastern Sun]]|date=20 August 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=4|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109060958/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/easternsun19670820-1.2.12.27|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul Aziz Yeop become its first chairman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.klik.com.my/item/story/2393791/berakhirnya-cengkaman-penjajah-inggeris|title=Berakhirnya cengkaman penjajah Inggeris|author=Rashidah Ibrahim|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=26 August 1991|accessdate=14 December 2021}}</ref> In September 1967, Bernama was invited to be the member of the [[Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies]] (OANA)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670918-1.2.21|title=BERNAMA dapat undangan|publisher=[[Berita Harian]]|date=18 September 1967|access-date=7 January 2017|page=2|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107085722/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19670918-1.2.21|url-status=live}}</ref> and officially became a full member a year later, in September 1968.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/easternsun19680922-1.2.13.22|title=Bernama is now member of OANA|publisher=[[Eastern Sun]]|date=22 September 1968|access-date=7 January 2017|page=4|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107085721/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/easternsun19680922-1.2.13.22|url-status=live}}</ref> A month later, Bernama is looking for three top executive posts to fill the position.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitsbudget19671004-1.2.14|title=Bernama seeking three top executives|publisher=The Straits Budget|date=4 October 1967|access-date=9 January 2017|page=5|archive-date=9 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109060957/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitsbudget19671004-1.2.14|url-status=live}}</ref>