Up Close and Personal With Ahmad Mustapha Hassan

(Photo by Zuber of Corporate Communication, Bernama)

Ahmad Mustapha Hassan, the author of a book The Unmaking of Malaysia was in Bernama today.

He was not here to promote his book launched in 2007, but to share his experience in managing Bernama as well as being press secretary to former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the then Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

At 73, Ahmad Mustapha is still witty and was happy to see some of the early batches of Bernama journalists present during his talk at the Centre of Excellence on the 12th floor of Wisma Bernama.

Among others are former general managers Datuk Seri Azman Ujang (Bernama editorial adviser) and Datuk Syed Jamil Jaafar (Bessar adviser), former Editor in Chief Datuk Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, former Editors Ratna Melan,Amin Husaini, Rachman Norodin (Nam News Network coordinator) and S. N. Rajan (last post as Bernama’s Head of Marketing).

“I thought I will be talking to young reporters, but I am happy to see some familiar faces,” said Ahmad Mustapha, who was happy to note that he is a natural grandfather, or ‘Datuk’ with eight grandchildren.

During the session moderated by Azman, Ahmad Mustapha, who started Bernama’s commercial ventures when he held the post of General Manager from October 1981 to Nov 30 1987, took the audience on his life journey, and paid tribute to Abdul Razak, whom he described as someone who was easy to work with.

He said Abdul Razak had full confidence in him as press secretary, and Ahmad Mustapha knew then that there was a clear career path for him, envisioning that he could move several steps further, right up to holding a ministerial post, or “even minister in charge of Bernama,” he said in jest, drawing laughter from the audience.

But it was fated that his term with Abdul Razak lasted for one and a half years, till the latter’s death and “fate is such, I become the GM of Bernama”, said Ahmad Mustapha, who shot to stardom when he wrote the book, which was critical of Dr Mahathir.

Launched by former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Musa Hitam in November 2007, the 271-page book, published by the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, details Ahmad Mustapha’s experience working under the two former leaders and comparisons between their leadership styles.

It also touches on how Abdul Razak’s singular goal was to uplift the rural people who had supported the fight for independence.

In his book, Ahmad Mustapha, who is a nephew of Dr Mahathir said the latter did not follow rules and procedures set by his predecessors.