Wong Chun Wai gets honorary doctorate

PUTRAJAYA: Prominent journalist Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai has been conferred with an honorary doctorate in leadership from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in recognition of his significant contributions of over three decades to the country’s media.

This is the first doctorate for Wong, who is now the Star Media Group adviser, and one of the biggest names in the industry.

He was awarded the doctorate by the university’s founder and president Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing during the convocation ceremony for 1,100 graduates at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

In reading out the citation, National Professors Council president and chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Raduan Che Rose said Wong is a strong advocate of moderation and positive values for a well-balanced and sustainable society.

“(For) his outstanding achievements in journalism, lifelong advocacy for moderation and transparency, and exemplary corporate excellence, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is honoured to bestow upon Wong the honorary doctorate in leadership.

“Congratulations from all of us,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Wong, an award-winning journalist, said passion and dedication to the profession had helped him to excel in the job.

Serving under the same employer for 34 years, he said he worked from the bottom of the ladder, as a junior reporter, and climbed his way to the pinnacle of his career, as the company’s managing director and chief executive officer.

Proud moment: Lim (centre) presenting an honorary doctorate in leadership to Wong as guest of honour Tengku Arif Temenggong Pahang Tengku Fahd Mua’adzam Shah Almarhum Sultan Ahmad Shah looks on during the convocation ceremony in Putrajaya.

“Opportunities will come when you have the drive and ambition to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal,” he said.

Wong revealed that the newsroom was his second home, and he was never a clock-watcher, and did more than the job requirements, with a self-imposed rule of “wanting to set record after record”.

He expressed gratitude for the award, saying “it is not for myself, but for other journalists and my colleagues, as well as for recognising the profession”.

Wong, who retired in January, described himself as “old school with the continuing flame to learn and adapt”.

He joined The Star, first in 1980, earning only about RM300 a month.

Sharing his work experience, he said he was lucky as he had travelled to South Africa, Senegal, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, Sudan and Egypt. Saying “I will be travelling to Tanzania soon”, he said he shared Lim’s enthusiasm for the African continent.

Wong commended Lim for his vision, in setting up branch universities in Africa, and in making the Malaysian brand a global one.

Addressing the graduates, Lim said every chapter must come to an end so that a new chapter may begin.

“Today, you graduate with a degree, Master’s or a PhD. May this journey you have started with us take you to the most wonderful places in the world,” he said.

Responsible for globalising Malaysian education, the university has students from 64 countries in 15 campuses found on three continents.

“The Star Media Group has similar goals as we started as a small tabloid in Penang and today, has over eight million readers reading The Star Online from around the world each day, and we designed it over 20 years ago before digital became a buzzword,” said Wong.

Drawing parallels, he said Limkokwing University of Creative Technology had shifted its focus to winning accolades overseas, and likewise, The Star had encouraged its journalists to win international awards, pointing out its youth platform, R.AGE, had won numerous global awards.

Wong, 58, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, where he studied political science and history.

He made history by becoming The Star’s youngest group chief editor at 46 in 2007, and in 2010, he was also the first group chief editor to be appointed an executive director.

He was an adjunct professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia, and in 2014, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Media Industry by the World Chinese Economic Forum in Chongqing, China.

Wong, who has authored two books, continues to write his weekly column, “On The Beat” every Sunday, which began in 1997, as well as his new column “Off The Beat” on his off the beaten track travels fortnightly.