PETALING JAYA: Star Media Group Bhd’s (SMG) 55th anniversary is a time to reflect on a journey defined by trust, reliability and progress, says its chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng.
He said the group’s commitment had always been “grounded in truth, strengthened by resilience and driven by our commitment to serving Malaysians”.
Wong said SMG had evolved from a local Penang tabloid in 1971 into a multi-platform organisation with a presence across media and non-media spaces, including print, digital, radio, events and community initiatives.
“From its beginning, that same spirit has driven Star Media Group’s evolution from a newspaper into a multi-platform organisation with a presence across both media and non-media spaces,” he said.
He said that while platforms and technology continued to change, SMG’s core values remained centred on reliable journalism, staying close to the communities it served and continuing to “inform, inspire and innovate”.
Wong said this was reflected in the group’s 55th anniversary theme, “Inspiring Progress, Shaping Tomorrow”.
He also highlighted the role of The Star, MStar, Suria FM and 988 in connecting with different audiences, as well as SMG’s various business, education and community initiatives.
“At the heart of all this is something simple. That is, bringing people and ideas together,” he said.
Wong said the group’s anniversary initiatives, including the Star Archive and Pixel, a 55-day digital visual diary featuring memorable images captured by its photographers, had allowed SMG to revisit the stories and moments that had shaped the group and Malaysia.
He said the anniversary was also an occasion to honour the people behind SMG’s achievements.
“When we look back, we are reminded that behind every milestone, every story and every achievement are people,” he said.
A total of 49 employees were honoured for their long service during the celebration at Menara Star, with 25 employees recognised for 15 years and 24 for 25 years of service.
The 15-year recipients received Tissot watches, while those who completed 25 years of service were presented with gold coins.
Recipients also received certificates of appreciation.
Wong thanked the recipients for their years of service, describing them as an important part of the organisation.
“This reflects loyalty, professionalism, resilience and above all, a belief in the work that we do. So you are an important part of the heartbeat of Star Media Group,” he said.
Executive producer Ian Lau Yan Fun, who received the 25-year award, said his passion for creating content had kept him motivated throughout his career.
“I think it’s been actually doing what I love, which is creating stuff, creating videos, writing and also allowing me to talk on camera,” he said.
One of his career highlights was producing a cooking video that eventually garnered more than 800,000 views.
“That was really a big achievement for me,” he said.
With retirement planned for next year, Lau said the award is very meaningful.
“It’s like one last hurrah from the company before I retire,” he said.
Photographer Ahmad Izzrafiq Alias, who received his 15-year award, said his experience as a press photographer had allowed him to document different stages of life.
Among his most memorable experiences was riding in a two-seater F1 car with racer Mark Webber.
“I will work harder and hope to reach 25 years or work at this company until I retire.
“I’m 39 this year, so I have another 21 years to go,” he said.
Chief reporter Allison Lai Mey Chin said her 15 years with the company had evolved naturally, from one year to five, then 10 and eventually 15.
“There is still something interesting and satisfying about finding a story, making sense of it and telling it well,” she said.
Lai said her bureau years in Melaka, Klang and Ipoh were among her most formative, giving her opportunities to cover everything from hard news and human-interest stories to crime and accidents.
“Those years stand out for me not because of one particular story or event, but because of how much I grew as a journalist and as a person,” she said.
For Lai, the award was also a chance to share the milestone with her mother.
“I will give the watch to my mum when I head home to Melaka in a few days,” she said.
