KUALA LUMPUR: The Star won several awards at the MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards 2021, among them, the first prize in the A. Samad Ismail Young Journalist Award.
Journalist Royce Tan emerged top for the A. Samad Ismail Young Journalist Award where he won RM5,000, a trophy and a certificate for his articles - The Foreign Labour conundrum, How the tech supply chain is shaping the skies and Yearning for the skies.
The awards ceremony took place at the Majestic Hotel on Tuesday night (Nov 30).
The Star also bagged silver in four categories, with journalist Sheila Sri Priya Raman Chetty winning the excellent feature award. Tan also won bronze in the same category.
For the best infographic category, Muhammad Hafeez Aminuddin won silver.
Journalist Muhammad Farid Abdul Wahab also won the excellent environmental journalism award, while Sheila won bronze in the same category.
Meanwhile, The Star also took home silver in the excellent multimedia journalism award.
Tan emerges top for the A. Samad Ismail Young Journalist Award. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was the guest of honour.
In his speech, he paid tribute to journalists who worked tirelessly since the Covid-19 pandemic began last year.
“They are the unsung heroes when the world was plagued with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They worked tirelessly to publish information about the pandemic. They are willing to risk their lives to ensure Malaysians get fast and accurate news.
“Don’t give up... the media plays an important role in channelling aspirations of the government to the people.
“In future, the government and the media can make the Keluarga Malaysia concept a success.”
Ismail Sabri also said the government decided that the National Press Day, which was first celebrated in 2018, will be maintained on May 29.
Meanwhile, MPI chief executive director Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya, in his speech, thanked the Prime Minister for gracing the ceremony.
“Ismail is a political icon who is friendly to reporters, easily approachable and always appreciates the work by the media.”
Chamil said the panel of judges is made up of academicians in journalism, and veteran journalists.
