FOUR journalists from The Star made the daily proud by sweeping all the prizes in the English news and features categories in the state government’s Green Journalism Awards.
They are Christina Chin, Winnie Yeoh, Oh Chin Eng and Cavina Lim.
Chin, 35, has won green awards since its inauguration in 2011.
Her winning piece ‘The resurrection of Sungai Pinang’ published on Aug 24, 2012, in StarMetro bagged the 2013 Excellence Award in the features category.
“I’m very happy with the win and hope that it raises awareness among Penangites that everyone has a role to play in flood mitigation.
“Not littering will also go a long way in helping to keep the environment clean and prevent flash floods from occurring,” she said.
She also thanked the fishing community for sharing their plight through her story.
Yeoh, 28, was elated that her ‘Waste not, want not’ article (published in The Star, May 25 edition) won the Special Award in the news category, her second time winning Penang’s green award.
Her article highlighted the effort by the Rotary Club of George Town that worked with Heng Ee High School to introduce a food conversion unit to turn food waste into bio-fertiliser.
“It’s great that the community are continuously making the effort to make the environment cleaner and greener.
“It’s equally important that children are educated on the importance of looking after the environment,” she said.
Oh, 25, said he did not expect his article ‘Balik Pulau folk cry foul’ (The Star, March 11) to win the Excellence Award in the news category as it was his first time par- ticipating in a journalism competition.
The report was about a 12ha mangrove swamp in Kuala Jalan Bharu, Balik Pulau, which played a vital role in reducing the impact of the 2004 tsunami. It had been cleared to make way for a shrimp breeding project’s extension.
“As we move forward and lead a easier life with technology, we should also look at our surroundings and play a role in safeguarding the environment and nature,” he said.
Lim, 25, said she almost did not send in her entry ‘Devil and the deep blue sea’ (StarMetro, Feb 19) that won her the Special Award in the features category.
“This is my first time winning a journalism award since I started working as a journalist a year ago, so I’m really happy and surprised.
“My story was about the plight of local fishermen whose livelihood was being threatened by Apollo trawler fishermen encroaching Penang waters.
“I truly hope that the authorities will look into the plight of these local fishermen whose source of income is not only threatened by climate change but also illegal trawlers,” she said.
Chin bagged RM2,500, Oh won RM2,000 while Yeoh and Lim took home RM1,000 each.
In the Chinese section, Oon Khar Yong from Kwong Wah Yit Poh won the Excellence Award in the news category while Han Chiang College students Ng Geok Ping, Lee Yi Mun, Lim Kal Jzhi and Ang Yong Yang won the Special Award in the same category.
Por Lee Yen from Sin Chew Daily won the Excellence Award in the features category while Nanyang Siang Pau’s Lai Thiem Wah and its former trainee Tay Yong Lean won the Special Award.
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