Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (second left) presenting the mock cheque of RM100,000 towards the organisation of Kinabalu Press Awards 2024 to Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Datuk Muguntan Vanar (second right).
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah media continues to be an important partner in disseminating the policies and development plans of the state government, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
At the same time, the Chief Minister said the Sabah government was appreciative that news reports have also become a source of information for them to understand what was happening at the grassroots level besides being a channel for the people to share their plight.
Speaking at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration he hosted with the local media here on Monday night (May 6), he expressed hope that the media practitioners in this state will continue to report government programmes so that the people on the ground are exposed to them.
“That is why as a symbol of continuous support and appreciatipn for the media's contribution in Sabah, I decided back in 2022 to increase the state government contribution for the annual Kinabalu Press Awards (KPA) to RM100,000 from RM60,000 previously.
“The same amount is being allotted for the awards this year as the state government recognises the media as a key partner in information dissemination,” he said to about 250 media practitioners who were present.
During the event, Hajiji presented a symbolic mock cheque of the RM100,000 contribution to Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Datuk Muguntan Vanar.
Also in attendance was Kota Kinabalu Journalists Association (KKJA) chairman Jimmy Goh.
