KOTA KINABALU: The State Government continued its support for the Kinabalu Shell Press Awards (KSPA) with a RM50,000 sponsorship for the annual event aimed at spurring excellence in the media industry in Sabah and Labuan.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman presented the sponsorship to Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) acting president Francis Fahir, who is also the KSPA organising chairman when the organising committee paid a courtesy call on Musa at the State Assembly building here on yesterday.
Also present were organising committee members, including Shell Malaysia corporate affairs senior manager Sabah/Labuan, Datin Lucy Irene Yong; and Shell Malaysia NGO and Stakeholder Relations Advisor (Sabah/Sarawak), Victor Klanang.
Musa told the organising committee that the State Government appreciated the contributions of the media in Sabah and Labuan, and hoped the continuous financial support for the prestigious awards would encourage the media to further enhance the standard of journalism in Sabah.
The Kinabalu Shell Press Awards is a tripartite collaboration between SJA, Shell and the Sabah State Government.
Earlier, in briefing the Chief Minister, Francis said a total of 283 entries were received for the awards this year.
“The continuously high number of entries sent in by media practitioners for this programme proves the recognition given by the press in Sabah for the Kinabalu Shell Press Awards,” Francis said.
The KSPA is open to full-time journalists, photographers and producers from the print and electronic media, and starting last year also to part-time journalists in Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
During the brief courtesy call, Musa also consented to be the guest-of-honour for this year’s Kinabalu Shell Press Awards that would be held on May 17 here.