KUCHING: The Borneo Post dominated the prestigious 27th Kenyalang Journalism Awards 2015, winning six out of eight English news reporting categories including the coveted Journalism Award (Feature and News Feature).
The grand event hosted at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Friday night (Dec 18) saw The Borneo Post journalist Phyllis Wong winning the top award with her entry ‘Crossing Cultures, Touching Hearts‘.
The article series, which related her travels across Baram, Bario, Bakelalan and Lawas, earned her RM5,000 sponsored by the state government along with a certificate of recognition.
Adenan (third left) hands over the mock cheque to Phyllis, with others looking on. — Photo by Chimon Upon
She received her prize from the night’s guest-of-honour Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
This year’s rebranded awards also saw the introduction of a new news category – Rural Development News Reporting.
Proposed by Adenan himself, who wanted more coverage on rural development — the current key focus of the state government is narrowing the socioeconomic gap between the rural folk and their urban counterparts by 2030.
Phyllis and her team of Peter Sibon, Cheng Lian Hiok, Jonathan Chia Tze Min and Christopher Lau Ker Liang conquered the Rural Development News Reporting Award (English) with their piece ‘Cultivating Rice More of a Tradition in Bario Highlands‘.
Additionally, the chief minister also proposed that special honours be held to commemorate members of the press who had passed on.
“Perhaps the organisation of future awards would include this tribute to those who have departed, whose contributions have helped the industry tremendously. It is just appropriate for us to honour their memory and commemorate their contributions,” he said in his address.
In other categories, The Borneo Post’s Special Desk head Peter Sibon clinched the News Reporting Award with his report on Laman Bong Chin, while Sibu Bureau chief Raymond Tan Chak Hui came out tops in the Environmental News Reporting Award with his piece ‘Sibu Achieves First Ever Zero-Styrofoam Target‘.
Peter accepts the mock cheque from Dato Henry Lau. — Photo by Chimon Upon
Business Desk journalist Andrew Lim Kah Wah was adjudged the best in Business and Economic News Reporting with his work on ‘Sarawak, The New Frontier of Growth?’, while sub-editor Ghaz Ghazali took home top prize in the Sports News Reporting category with his feature ‘From ‘throwing body’ to ‘building body”.
Ghaz accepts his prize from Charmil (right)
Each received RM3,000 sponsored by Shell Malaysia and certificates of recognition.
The Borneo Post sister dailies – Utusan Borneo and See Hua Daily News – also emerged triumphant that night.
Utusan Borneo’s Siti Aisyah Ramli was named the ‘Most Promising Reporter’ in recognition of her Bahasa Malaysia entries ‘Penggunaan Tukun Tiruan Konkrit Akan Diperluas‘ and ‘DBKU Perkenal Sistem E-Drain Mesra Alam‘, alongside her previous reporting work in the fields of environment, business and health.
Siti Aisyah (right) receives her prize from Anuar Abu Bakar.— Photo by Chimon Upon
For such a feat, Siti Aisyah walked away with RM3,000 and a certificate.
In the Environmental Reporting category, Utusan Borneo Miri’s Steve Annuar won with his entry ‘Hasilkan Sabun Minyak Masak Untuk Kurangkan Pencemaran Sungai’, while Patricia Gari of the Kuching Office topped the Business and Economic News category with her report ‘GST: Pahit Akan Manis Akhirnya’.
The best in Bahasa Malaysia’s Health Reporting category was Nick Fletcher Neha, for his work entitled ‘Lebih 18,000 Pesakit Tunggu Pemindahan Organ‘.
Each brought home RM3,000 and certificate.
Chinese-vernacular See Hua Daily News topped the Rural Development News, Business and Economic News and Health News categories.
Lau Sie Heng’s piece on ‘Adherents of Civilisation: Penans Progress from Dependent to Self-Reliant’ was adjudged the best in the Rural Development category, while Chong Suk Chin won the Business and Economy category with her report on ‘Agriculture Farming of the Land of Hornbill’.
Lau Sie Heng (third right) receives the prize from Adenan, witnessed by (from right) Abdul Karim, Anuar and Soon Koh. Phyllis is at left.
See Hua reporters – Ting Ngok Ding, Theng Moh Swee, Ling King She, Yek Choo Eng and Tiong Liu Cho – emerged triumphant with their collaborative Health News entry on ‘The Joy of Breastfeeding — A Gift of Love from the Mothers’.
The 27th Kenyalang Journalism Awards 2015 was conducted by Federation of Sarawak Journalists Associations (FSJA), with strong support from the state government, Shell Malaysia Bhd, Sarawak Energy Bhd and Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, with the judging process facilitated by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI).
Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, KTS Group managing director Dato Henry Lau, Sarawak Hidro general manager, operations and maintenance Anuar Abu Bakar, MPI chief executive officer Datuk Charmil Wariya and FSJA president Hii Hong Wee were among the distinguished guests of the night.
Winners of Kenyalang Journalism Awards 2015 pose with Adenan and key representatives from the state government, Shell Malaysia, Sarawak Energy, Sarawak Hidro and MPI. — Photo by Chimon Upon
OTHER WINNERS
Journalism Awards—Feature and News Feature
Bahasa Malaysia: Haini Darani (Utusan Sarawak)
Chinese: Ho Choon Ping (Sin Chew Daily)
Broadcasting: Rosita Ampong (RTM)
Rural Development News Awards
Bahasa Malaysia: Haini Darani (Utusan Sarawak)
Broadcasting: Abu Zaidi Abu Bakar (TV3)
Environmental News Awards
Chinese: Ho Choon Ping (Sin Chew Daily)
Broadcasting: Rosita Ampong (RTM)
News Reporting Awards
Bahasa Malaysia: Rabiatul Adawiyah Ismail (Harian Metro)
Chinese: Ho Lee Peing, Bong Siak Boon (Sin Chew Daily)
Iban: Valentine Tawie (Utusan Sarawak)
Health News Awards
English: Adeline Liong Fong Kiaw (New Sarawak Tribune)
Sports News Awards
Bahasa Malaysia: Nor Aziran Mohamed Yunus (Kosmo!)
Chinese: Lim Sian Yong, Bong Siak Boon (Sin Chew Daily)
Broadcasting: Rosita Ampong (RTM)
Photography Awards
Mohamad Gustie Noorambia (Kosmo!)