KUANTAN: Former Star Media Group photographer Datuk Nik Naizi Husin (pic) has passed away after a short illness.
Nik Naizi, 63, passed away at 11.40pm Tuesday at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan here, where he had been hospitalised since Dec 24 after suffering complications caused by a heart attack earlier in the month.
He joined the company on April 1, 1982, and was transferred to its Kuantan bureau in 1995.
He retired in September 2019, but was retained on contract until March 2020.
Among his notable work as a photographer for Star Media Group was his coverage of the Kuantan bauxite mining issue in 2016.
In 2014, Nik Naizi was conferred the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang, which carries the title “Datuk”, by Almarhum Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah.
In 2017, he picked up the grand prize in the DRB-Hicom Pahang Media Awards’ English news reporting category for his story on the ‘Start in Tioman’ scuba diving event.
He was the president of Kelab Media Pahang, an organisation for media practitioners in the state, until his passing.
His son, Nik Ahmad Amirul Husain, 28, described Nik Naizi as strict, though he could be humorous at times.
“He was a forgiving person and had a positive attitude. He did not hold grudges.
“Writing was part of his job while hiking was his hobby,” said Nik Ahmad.
Star Media Group chief content officer Esther Ng remembers Nik Naizi as an icon of dedication.
“Nik Naizi and I covered the Mona Fandey trial in Temerloh in 1994. He was working alongside me throughout the entire hearing process.
“I remember him as a dedicated journalist, who was first in the court compound every morning, for five long months.
“He even got to know the three accused so well, to the extent they greeted him by name every time they saw him. He will be missed,” she said.
News editor Zulkifli Abd Rahman said he got to know Nik Naizi when he did his practical training in the newspaper’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya in 1989.
He then joined Nik Naizi at the Kuantan bureau for about three years in 2003.
“He was very helpful to me and didn’t mind working on his days off to help me in my assignments.
“Everybody seemed to know him, from VVIPs to the ordinary people. He was a friend to everyone,” he added.
Nik Naizi was laid to rest at the Setali Muslim cemetery here yesterday.
He leaves behind his wife, Datin Salma Abdul Samad, 57, four children, and six grandchildren.
