KUALA LUMPUR: Star Media Group (SMG) bagged three top prizes and other awards at the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-PETRONAS Malaysian Journalism Awards 2022.
Present at the annual event to honour the work of the Malaysian media was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Tung Eng Hwa, executive editor (content design), won RM10,000 for Best Frontpage Design for Majoriti 7’s stories, “Undi 18-Apa yang generasi muda mahukan”, “Harga rumah naik setanding trend kuasa membeli” and “Siap siaga hadapi musim monsun dan risiko banjir. Bersediakah warga kota?”.
For the Excellent Investigative Reporting category, Aliza Shah received the gold award for her series of reports on illegal dental courses and fake dentists, “Express dental danger”, “A high price to pay”, and “Kid’s play to get dentist kit”. The award also came with a RM10,000 cash prize.
Sandhya Menon clinched the A. Samad Ismail Young Journalist Award and RM5,000 for “Falling further behind”, “Cyberbullying: Virtual threats a real danger” and “Teachers’ wish list”.
SMG’s multimedia team also took home the silver award, which came with RM1,500, for its stories – “Multimedia: Join us in a virtual tour of Melaka”, “Interactive: Arnold’s Seven Secret Penang Spots” and “Interactive: Can Malaysia regain its pre-pandemic tourism mojo?”
The team comprises editors, journalists and artists Diyana Pfordten, Razak Ahmad, Sim Leoi Leoi, Shaiful Rizwan Mohd Azhar, Ahmad Izzrafiq Alias, Liew Jia Xian, Ragananthini Vethasalam, Sarban Singh, Arnold Loh, Fatimah Zainal, Aida Ahmad, Dorairaj Nadason and Mohd Syahril Mohd Jamal.
Revathi Murugappan won the silver award and RM1,500 for her articles, “Preparing for the endgame”, “Calling the trauma team!” and “When doctor becomes patient”.
Anwar, in his speech, said the media also have a role to play in spreading knowledge to the masses and encouraging the love of reading, especially among the younger generation.
“I urge the reporting community to continue their efforts to encourage the public to love knowledge and reading,” he said at the event held at Majestic Hotel here last night.
In his opening speech, MPI chief executive officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya said PETRONAS has agreed to extend its sponsorship of the awards for three more years, with additional radio and television categories.
This year’s awards saw 386 entries, an increase to last year’s 350, in 17 categories.
Yusmizal Dolah Aling of Harian Metro won the top Kajai Award and took home RM30,000, a certificate and trophy.
Also present were Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and deputy Teo Nie Ching.
