Kuala Lumpur mayor, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, shared her vision for a closer, more collaborative relationship between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the media in making the Malaysian capital a vibrant, thriving, and exciting city.
Speaking at the National Press Club of Malaysia’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur last night, she highlighted the pivotal role the media can play in shaping the city’s future.
Addressing close to 200 media practitioners and guests during the celebration, Maimunah thanked the National Press Club (NPC) and emphasised the importance of working together.
“There is an African proverb that goes: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” she said.
Maimunah said this proverb perfectly encapsulates her vision for Kuala Lumpur’s development – a city that not only moves forward with ambition but does so by including everyone in that journey.
Maimunah acknowledged the long-standing, symbiotic relationship between City Hall and the media, asserting that while they may not ‘need’ each other for survival, together, they are stronger, and more capable of realising Kuala Lumpur’s full potential.
The mayor’s hopes and aspirations were clearly articulated when she expressed her intention to work closely with the media and the NPC. She proposed quarterly engagement sessions with its members to provide updates on the latest developments affecting Kuala Lumpur’s residents. This includes sharing key facts and figures, unveiling strategic plans, and highlighting community engagement programmes.
By fostering open communication, Maimunah believes the media can act as City Hall’s eyes and ears, ensuring that the voices of stakeholders in Kuala Lumpur are heard. This partnership, she said, is essential for ensuring that policies and initiatives are reflective of the people’s needs and aspirations.
However, her call for cooperation goes beyond reporting. Maimunah urged the media to take a more proactive role in city governance, positioning them as watchdogs who can help root out inefficiencies and malpractices.
“I call upon the media to play a leading role, to be the eyes and ears of City Hall,” she stressed, adding that Kuala Lumpur’s future hinges on a transparent and accountable system of governance, which can only be achieved with the media’s active involvement.
For Maimunah, the time for action is now. She described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to effect real, meaningful change in Kuala Lumpur. The urgency in her message reflected her determination to push Kuala Lumpur forward and transform it into a world-class city that not only stands as a beacon in Southeast Asia but also on the global stage.
The NPC’s Diamond Jubilee is more than just a celebration of longevity. Beyond celebrating this milestone, Maimunah was particularly pleased that the evening’s awards also recognised the immense contributions of women in journalism. She congratulated the women in attendance, acknowledging their critical role in shaping the media landscape and inspiring the next generation of journalists.
NPC Diamond Award recipient P.C. Shivadas said receiving the award was “beyond his expectations”.
“I did not expect anything from this career of mine except being as honest as I can and to fulfil the role I played in my vocation,” said Shivadas, popularly known as Shiv.
“In other words, it was about not causing any unnecessary anguish or hurt to anybody through wrong reporting,” said the 83-year-old, who began his career as a journalist in 1963.
Shivadas, a former New Straits Times group editor, said he was grateful for the editors in the newsroom who made sure that journalists did not make mistakes that would dishonour the reputation of the publication and organisation.
He also said that he had to take a step back to reflect on his journey as a journalist upon learning that he would be receiving the award from the NPC.
“I didn’t realise that I had left an impression on others… to be given this honour. You could say that I never really analysed or thought about the impact that I would have on others. My only focus was on doing my job to the best of my abilities,” he said.
Datuk Hardev Kaur, another former New Straits Times group editor, received the NPC President’s Award.
Hardev, started her career in RTM upon graduating from university. She later rose through the ranks from junior reporter to News Editor, and then Business Times Editor. She was also assigned to help TV3 start its business programme, Money Matters, in the early 1990s.
She said that while there were ups and downs, frustrations and disappointments throughout her three decades as a journalist, she had no regrets.
“Would I do it all over again? Absolutely yes!”
Datuk Nuraina Samad, one of the four Media Luminary Award recipients, said it was especially meaningful to receive an award from her peers.
“I feel touched, and it is an honour to be recognised by those in my profession,” said Nuraina, a former managing editor of the New Straits Times.
The Media Luminary Award recognises the achievements and contributions of women journalists and leaders who have left an indelible impression on the media industry. The other winners are Star Media Group chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, Media Prima Television Networks and Primeworks Studios chief executive officer Nini Yusof, and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
Eleven veteran journalists of Bernama were also honoured with the Lifetime Dedication to Journalism Award for their commitment to the highest standards of journalism and their dedication to upholding the principles of integrity, fairness and truth in society.
National Press Club President Datuk Ahirudin Attan said the event was to celebrate the achievements and contributions of journalists who had contributed to the industry and the nation.
“We are indeed humbled that you are all here tonight. You are the giants that have chronicled our nation’s development,” said Ahirudin.
“We stand on your shoulders, as it is the only way that we can see clearly into the challenging future ahead,” he said.
Roll of honour
NPC Diamond Award
P.C. Shivadas
NPC President’s Award
Datuk Hardev Kaur
Media Luminary Award
1. Datuk Nuraina Samad
2. Datin Paduka Esther Ng
3. Nini Yusof
4. Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin
Lifetime Dedication to Journalism Award
1. Zainoor Sulaiman
2. Datuk Seri Azman Ujang
3. Abd Karim Abd Shukor
4. S.N. Rajan
5. Prof Datuk Ahmad Murad Merican
6. Tan Jooi Long
7. Datuk Mokhtar Hussain
8. S. Sivaselvam
9. Zulkafly Baharuddin
10. Datuk Jaafar Husin
11. Abdul Rahman Ahmad
Main image: NPC Diamond Award recipient P.C. Shivadas (third from left) receives his award from Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
