Insurance Firm Pay Cameraman Noramfaizul after Shot Dead in Somalia

Cameraman Noramfaizul - Bernama chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Sulaiman said RM50,000 would be paid out by the insurance company where Bernama had taken a term life insurance policy for the late Bernama TV cameraman, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor.

In a statement today to clear the air about insurance coverage for Bernama employees, he said the term life policy covered death and also partial or total permanent disablement, and the next of kin of the insured would receive a maximum of RM50,000.

"In the case of our late Noramfaizul, the insurance company has agreed to the payment of RM50,000 not only as a matter of honouring the policy but also in full compliance with it," he said.

Last Friday, Noramfaizul was shot dead while covering a Malaysian humanitarian mission in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Abdul Rahman said Bernama provided two types of 24-hour worldwide insurance coverage for its employees -- term life policy and group personal accident policy.

As for the group personal accident policy, he said, it also covered death, partial and total permanent disablement and had similar exclusion clauses like the term life policy.

"The only difference is that it does not cover death caused directly or indirectly by war, invasion, hostility or civil war where the insured has taken part directly or indirectly.

"Nonetheless, we have filed a claim with the insurance company. We are pleased that the company has agreed to pay some form of compensation and we will be told of the amount later."

Abdul Rahman said besides these policies, Bernama employees were also accorded benefits under the Group Hospitalisation and Surgical Benefit Insurance Scheme.

"In summary, I would like to state that we have one of the best medical and insurance coverage for staff in this country," he said.

Abdul Rahman said Bernama had also been informed that aid for the family of the late Noramfaizul would also be provided by SOCSO, the Ministry of Defence via a special fund set up in the mid-1980's and 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

In addition, Putera 1Malaysia Club president, Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, announced yesterday that Noramfaizul's family would receive RM200,000 via a group insurance coverage while Social Care Foundation chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang had also donated RM50,000.

[via - Bernama.com]