The Malaysian National News Agency (Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia, BERNAMA) is the official news agency of the Malaysian government. The agency has a presence in every state in Malaysia, as well as a network of foreign correspondents. Furthermore, the agency operates its own television and radio services.
Media assets
News agency: BERNAMA
Television: BERNAMA TV
Radio: BERNAMA Radio
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
BERNAMA is an autonomous body that reports to and is managed by the Ministry of Communications. The agency was established by a legal act adopted by Parliament in 1967. The main governing structures at BERNAMA are a Supervisory Board consisting of five individuals, all appointed by the head of state (Yang di-Pertuan Agong). The agency is managed by a Board of Governors, comprising seven members appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Source of funding and budget
In 2022, BERNAMA had a budget of MYR 68m (US$ 15m), according to a report from the Ministry of Communications.
Additionally, the agency generates revenue through advertising sales, though this source of income is significantly less than the government subsidy it receives. Furthermore, the revenue generated by BERNAMA is collected by the Ministry.
Editorial independence
As a government-run agency, BERNAMA’s editorial stance is perceived to be biased towards the government. Local journalists and experts interviewed for this report in March 2024 have indicated that the agency serves as a conduit between the government and local media outlets, which regularly republish BERNAMA content.
To date, no independent assessment mechanism or statute establishing the independence of BERNAMA has been identified.
September 2024