theSun former editors-in-chief named national laureates

KUALA LUMPUR: Two former editors-in-chief of theSun were honoured today for their outstanding contributions to the nation in the field of journalism.
Datuk Ahmad Rejal Arbee was named the recipient of the National Journalism Laureate for 2014 while the late Zainon Ahmad was given the same award posthumously.
On hand to receive the Malaysian Press Institute-Petronas awards – each of which carried a RM30,000 cash prize – from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were Rejal and Zainon’s eldest daughter Zalinda.
In his speech, Ahmad Zahid urged MPI and Petronas, as the main sponsor of the annual press awards, to increase their monetary value from next year.
In suggesting that Petronas-MPI increase the total monetary awards to RM500,000 from next year, he also pledged to give a matching grant of RM500,000.
“I feel journalists should be properly appreciated and rewarded for their contributions to nation building as through their writings, they can bring about awareness, compliments, constructive criticism, defend goodness and bring down the bad,” he said.
“They should thus be better compensated than performing artistes who are paid more,” he said.
However, Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, said that in carrying out their duties, journalists must be balanced in their reporting as well as have a good understanding of the issues that are being reported.
“It cannot be denied that the press have a role to monitor those in power and the exercise of power, as the Fourth Estate after the executive, legislative and judiciary,” he said.
He said, however, journalists should be careful in playing their role so as not to spread messages that have been twisted and those that can create public unrest.
“There is no absolute media freedom, even in the most liberal western countries. Media freedom must be accompanied by responsibility,” he stressed.
“As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. And just like the sword, in the hands of someone irresponsible, it can be dangerous,” he warned.
“I am not touching this issue because I want to restrict media freedom in Malaysia, but to make everyone realise the importance of managing media organisations responsibly towards the development of the country and the people.”
He said journalism practised in the country should be constructive, positive and based on the local culture of Malaysia.
“Please be journalists who are objective, honest, dynamic and work to bring peace. Don’t be those that are without the spirit of nationalism.
Ahmad Zahid hoped non-mainstream media would utilise their freedom without going to the point of bringing the country down.
He added that if one is ready to criticise others, then one should also be ready to accept criticism.