BUTTERWORTH: After more than three decades in broadcasting and journalism, Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman received the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2026 Award in recognition of his significant contributions to Malaysia’s media industry.
The former Broadcasting Malaysia (RTM) director-general received the award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Hawana 2026 Grand Finale yesterday.
Suhaimi, 64, described the recognition as both an honour and a responsibility, saying it would motivate him to continue learning and sharing his experience, particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the media landscape.
“This recognition means a great deal to someone who is still learning. As media practitioners, we are constantly learning new things, especially in the AI era, which requires us to adapt and acquire new knowledge,” he said, as reported by Bernama.
He said being chosen by his peers in the media industry was a great honour and a recognition that motivates him to continue contributing to the country’s media landscape.
“I am deeply touched that my fellow media practitioners chose me. Receiving an award for something you genuinely love doing is an extraordinary feeling.
“Although I was informed about it beforehand, I was still overwhelmed. In fact, if I had been given the opportunity to speak on stage earlier, I think I would have been in tears.”
Reflecting on his time at the RTM and later TV Sarawak (TVS), Suhaimi said one of his key priorities was accelerating the shift towards digital media to ensure broadcasting platforms remained relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape.
“We know people no longer watch television news or listen to the radio in the way they once did. Instead, they get their news through content that appears on the ‘For You Page’ of mobile apps such as TikTok,” he said.
“So, we need to understand the language of TikTok, as well as search engine optimisation and the algorithms that determine how content reaches audiences.”
With more than 35 years of experience in the industry, Suhaimi began his career as an economics desk journalist at TV3 in 1990 before becoming one of Malaysia’s most recognisable news personalities.
Among his previous posts were Bernama chairman and TVS chief executive officer.
Beyond his leadership roles, Suhaimi is known for mentoring aspiring journalists and media leaders through journalism and strategic communications training programmes, including at the Asean level.
