KUALA LUMPUR – Veteran journalist Khalidah Adibah Amin was named the National Journalism Laureate in conjunction with the 2023 Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards at the 2024 Malaysian Journalists Night yesterday.
Known as Adibah Amin, her nomination as the first woman to be named National Journalism Laureate was proposed by the Malaysian Women Journalists Association (Pertama).
The award was presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to her sister on behalf of Adibah, 88, who was unable to attend the event due to health reasons.
Renowned for her excellence in journalism and writing and for being an outstanding linguist, educator and news presenter, she is the daughter of independence fighter Tan Sri Zainon Sulaiman or Ibu Zain.
Proficient in Malay and English, Adibah has also authored three Malay novels using the pen name Seri Delima and produced over 200 radio dramas.
Adibah started her career as a journalist with The New Straits Times in 1971 and became the first woman to be appointed Berita Harian editor (1983-1984) as well as a columnist for Berita Harian and The Star and editorial advisor for Jelita magazine.
She received the 2022 National Translation Personality Award, the SEA Write Award 1983, the Esso-Gapena Prize for contribution to the development of literature (1991), the Outstanding Journalist of the Country by the Malaysian Union of Journalists (1996) and the Tun Razak Prize for outstanding contribution to the development of education and the establishment of mutual understanding and harmony between the national communities of Malaysia (1998).
In November 2006, Adibah published her first novel in English, This End of The Rainbow, and translated several literary articles, including No Harvest But A Thorn written by National Laureate Shahnon Ahmad.
She has also authored over 50 books, edited and translated, among them Glimpses: Cameos of Malaysian Life (MPH Group Publishing 2008), As I Was Passing II (MPH Group Publishing 2007) and As I Was Passing (MPH Group Publishing 2006).
Meanwhile, Pertama deputy president Nasriah Darus described the recognition accorded to Adibah as an honour for women journalists in Malaysia.
She said the recognition reflected the capability and role of women journalists in the increasingly challenging and complex field of journalism.
“Women journalists are the backbone in reporting news, recording history and even as educators of communities… the greatness and abilities of women cannot be denied, and they are on par with the male journalists.
“We at Pertama greatly appreciate and thank the Malaysian Press Institute for this recognition and hope that it serves as a catalyst for all women journalists to continue to strive in this field,” said Nasriah, who is also the deputy editor-in-chief for news service of Bernama.
The 2023 MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards received over 488 entries for the 23 categories contested.
Also accompanying the prime minister at last night’s ceremony was Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil. – June 8, 2024