KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) has acquired a boat as a new asset to increase its preparedness in its coverage and handling of relief missions, especially during flood disasters, thus improving the quality of news reporting.

Its chairman Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi said the acquisition of the latest asset was important to facilitate news reporting work, especially during unexpected and unusual disaster, like the floods which hit the country recently.

"The boat we have is a good initiative by Bernama, especially with the unpredictable weather conditions. With this asset, we can also go down to the site to help those in need," she said when met here today.

Earlier, Ras Adiba and Bernama chief executive officer Datuk Mokhtar Hussain launched the "Singgah Kebun" programme at Kebun Bandar Bernama along Sungai Bunus, here with the planting of Roselle plants.

Commenting on the programme, Ras Adiba said it was a good effort and should be intensified as greening of the urban areas had positive impact on the environment and mental health.

"Having been in the world of journalism myself, this kind of activity is important for us to de-stress," she added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director II of the Sultan Iskandar Institute, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Dr Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani, who was also present at the programme, said the urban farm initiative was aimed at preserving the green areas along Sungai Bunus and involved the cooperation of various agencies.

Wan Nurul Mardiah, who is also the chairman of the Sungai Bunus Urban Farm Club, said the programme was initiated by UTM, Bernama and Expressionz in 2016, before other agencies, such as Patriot Foundation and the Librarians Association of Malaysia joined in.

The programme received the full support of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), she added.

She said apart from being a green area in the city, the urban farm would also be used as a research platform.

"With the establishment of this (Sungai Bunus Urban Farm) club, we plan to carry out various types of activities, including research. UTM sees this farm as a 'living lab' where we can learn and apply various conservation theories.

"Insya-Allah, in the next two to three years we can see the results and evaluate the sustainability of this programme," she said, adding that the farm had won the DBKL "Kebun Kejiranan Local Agenda 21 (LA21) in 2018.

She also said that the club was in the process of obtaining approval for the club registration from the Registrar of Societies.

-- BERNAMA