Breaking the mould: Isa conducting an interview in Beijing while Ahmad has immersed himself in the environment in China to become a better person.
PETALING JAYA: With a desire to take on challenges, two Malay journalists broke barriers to excel in China.
Isa Zubir, 35, and Ahmad Syukri Azmi, 33, can take pride in their successful careers in China’s news media, after initial obstacles and hardships.
Isa is a foreign expert and host journalist for an English-language news channel in China, while Ahmad is an editor and foreign expert for a Chinese daily.
Isa said he got to know of a vacancy in China while working with national news agency Bernama in 2017, but decided to first hold on to his application.
It was in February this year that he felt the time was right, and he moved to Beijing with his wife in tow.
“I have always been inspired to give a voice to those who are seldom heard. To me, journalism is more than just news reporting. It is about uncovering truths, sparking meaningful conversation and connecting communities.
“So, when I got a second chance, I knew I had to take it,” he said in a phone interview.
Isa, who started as a broadcast journalist for Bernama TV in 2014, had to grapple with obstacles in language and culture when he went over.
He took it upon himself to learn the ropes and took up Mandarin classes, practising with native speakers to give him an edge.
“As someone whose mother tongue is Bahasa Malaysia, I knew from the beginning that communication would require an extra effort. I am still brushing up and for now, I’m focused on pronunciation and communicating with the locals,” he said.
Isa, who is from Sungai Besar in Selangor, said his work does not require him to have Mandarin-speaking or writing skills, as yet.
He said the hardest part is being separated from his family.
“Thankfully, my wife resigned from her job to come with me. Religious duties are a bit difficult as there are not many mosques here compared with back home.
“While I’m not looking to settle here permanently, I’m thrilled by the incredible opportunities to soak up knowledge and experience I would never have had otherwise,” he added.
Ahmad, on the other hand, began his China stint back in 2018 after four years as a broadcast journalist at Bernama Radio here.
“Moving to China was an opportunity to immerse myself in an unfamiliar environment. My knowledge of China, in terms of its culture and language, was very limited. This made the prospect both intimidating and exciting,” said Ahmad, who is from Kuala Lumpur.
He said he was helped by his China colleagues who surprisingly spoke exceptional Malay due to many of them having studied the language at Chinese universities as part of their degree programmes.
“Their proficiency in the language was helpful during my initial adjustment period, which helped me learn Mandarin much faster.
“It was also quite difficult as I had moved to China just two weeks after getting married and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in my wife and me being stuck in Beijing for three years,” he said.
The enterprising journalist said he has grown stronger and become a better person because of his stay in China.
“While there are significant differences, I’ve found that mutual learning and understanding can bridge these gaps, which allowed me to adapt and strengthen relationships across cultures with the people here.
“When I eventually come back to Malaysia, I look forward to using the knowledge and experiences I’ve gained to benefit my fellow Malaysians,” he added.
