Kuala Lumpur: HAWANA 2025 Award recipient Datuk Yong Soo Heong has dedicated the recognition to all those involved in journalism. Yong, who is also Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) president, said the award is a collective honour for all those who have guided and supported him throughout his career in the nation’s media industry, rather than a recognition of his contribution alone.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the former editor-in-chief and general manager of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) also expressed hope that the national news agency would continue to uphold the highest standards and become a respected institution not only within Malaysia but globally. Yong emphasized the need for Bernama to be a respected news organisation, highlighting that its personnel must be more dynamic as the staff are the backbone of the organisation. He noted the importance of producing credible and well-crafted stories to attract readers, viewers, and listeners.
Yong received the award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, witnessed by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai. The award ceremony took place at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).
Also present were Bernama’s chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 project director, and the top management of local media companies. Reflecting on his career, Yong recalled his time as a business desk journalist at Bernama in 1991 and his participation in a prime-time live interview on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) in 1998.
Commenting on the RM30 million allocation announced by the Prime Minister for digital transformation initiatives, Yong expressed that the funds could be used by media agencies to upgrade staff skills and bolster their ability to face evolving industry challenges. He described the allocation as a positive injection to enhance the capabilities of local media agencies through training or advanced equipment.
The HAWANA Award recognizes professional journalists, individuals, or organizations that have made significant contributions not only in journalism but also in shaping public awareness through their work. The inaugural HAWANA Award was posthumously conferred to Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj in 2018, followed by the Karangkraf Group (2022), renowned cartoonist Datuk Lat in 2023, and late veteran journalist James Alexander Ritchie in 2024.