SANDAKAN: The role of Utusan Borneo Sabah as a newspaper which disseminates the unity agenda in the state was appreciated and was chosen to be the recipient of the Special Media Award 2017.
The Special Media Award was given to Utusan Borneo for its commitment to publish news on programs organized by the Department of National Unity and Integration (DNUI), including programs organised by Rukun Tetangga, Jiran Wanita, Jiran Muda, Tunas Jiran, Jiran Emas, Voluntary Patrolling Scheme, Tabika Perpaduan and so forth through the newspaper’s ‘Jejak Perpaduan’ column, every week.
The Special Media Award 2017 was presented by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman during the Sandakan Rukun Tetangga Carnival in conjunction with the 2017 Unity Week celebration at Sri Libaran Hall on Saturday.
The award was received by Utusan Borneo senior journalist Abd Naddin Shaiddin representing Utusan Borneo Sabah newspaper, the most prestigious Malay language newspaper in the state.
Also receiving the Special Media Award was RTM while another newspaper also received the award.
For the Excellence Neighbourhood Management Award for Sandakan district, KRT Taman Merpati won the first place, Kampung Karamunting Baru KRT (second place) and KRT Apartment Indah Jaya (third place). For Beluran district, KRT Kampung Muanad Satu won first place, KRT Kampung Seri Menanti (second place) and Kampung Keniogan KRT (third place).
As for Kinabatangan district, KRT Batu Putih won first place, KRT Kota Kinabatangan (runner-up) and KRT Kampung Paris 3 (third place). For Telupid/Tongod district, KRT Kampung Wonod Zon 2 won the first place, KRT Kampung Kuala Tongod (runner-up) and Kampung Talibu KRT (third place).
The Sandakan District Excise Patrol Scheme Management Award was given to SRS Homestay Sim-Sim (first place), SRS Kampung Bokara (runner-up) and in third place was SRS Taman Murni Batu 7.
Twelve KRT district committees from Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Beluran received the Jasamu Dikenang Award.
Also present were deputy director-general (operations) of National Unity and Integration Department, Haji Karim Abu Seman representing Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee and Assistant Local Government and Housing Datuk Minister Zakaria Mohd Edris.