Media Prima wins three gold prizes, four merits at 2025 Kinabalu Press Awards
KOTA KINABALU: Media Prima Bhd took home three gold prizes and four merit prizes at the 2025 Kinabalu Press Awards.
TV3's Safwan Sawi and Mohammed Fairuz Yazzer each won a gold prize in the Entertainment Reporting and Environmental Journalism categories, respectively.
Photographer Mohd Adam Arinin clinched gold in the Best Picture category.
From the New Straits Times, Ersie Anjumin received a merit prize for Entertainment Reporting, Paul Mu for Environmental Journalism, and Olivia Miwil for Sports Journalism.
Harian Metro's Recqueal Raimi also earned a merit prize in the Sports Journalism category.
This year's awards attracted 268 entries.
The Sabah Journalists Association also honoured 90-year-old Chan Kang Yuan with the Tokoh Wartawan Sabah (Sabah Journalism Icon) title, recognising his unwavering dedication, professionalism, and courageous commitment to truthful reporting throughout his six-decade career.
Starting in 1958, Chan rose from copywriter to editor-in-chief of several Chinese-language newspapers, covering key historical events from colonial rule to the formation of Malaysia.
He was detained for 18 months under the Internal Security Act in 1969 for defying censorship but returned to journalism with the same fearless resolve until his retirement in 2021.
The awards ceremony was attended by Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, along with Sabah Journalists Association president Mariah Doksil.
In a speech delivered by Joniston, Hajiji said the success of communicating government policies and initiatives relies heavily on the media's role in delivering clear and effective information to the people.
"In the context of state development, the government remains committed to implementing various people-centric initiatives under the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan to accelerate progress in Sabah.
"I hope this strategic partnership will continue to be strengthened to help the government disseminate important information on development and the state's direction to the public."
He added that media reporting also helps the government stay informed about grassroots issues and public concerns.
Meanwhile, Mariah said the role of mainstream media remains critically important.
"Mainstream media plays a central role in ensuring fair, accurate, and balanced reporting, especially as we become increasingly flooded with fake news and half-truths across various social media platforms.
"The public must have access to credible and authoritative information, delivered in the proper context, and this is where mainstream media plays an irreplaceable role.
"We believe that all parties, the government, private sector, and general public, must work together to ensure that mainstream media remains healthy and continues to operate independently and responsibly."
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