Kuala Lumpur: The presence of an elderly man sitting alone at the Raya Sama-Sama event to celebrate artists and media practitioners caught the attention of guests yesterday. Neatly arranged on his desk were about seven press accreditation cards, staff passes, and media personnel passes from several agencies, some of which no longer exist like Mingguan Perdana, Watan, and Harian Nasional, leading one to realize that this individual was not an ordinary person.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the man also caught the attention of Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who attended the program’s launch and sat at the same table with Abdul Wahab Abdul Aziz, 80 — who last served as an editor at Harian Metro in 2013. Fahmi noted the significance of the press cards Abdul Wahab displayed, referring to them as a ‘power’ card of a journalist, essential for attending assignments, and commented on the changing landscape of media with the decline in newspaper circulation.
Abdul Wahab’s career in journalism began in 1965 at the Utusan Melayu factory in Jalan Chan Sow Lin when he was 20 years old, where he worked as a newspaper compositor for 15 years. He reflected on the differences in the printing plant operations from then to now, emphasizing the large-scale distribution of printed newspapers, a situation that has evolved significantly.
In the 1980s, a ‘plot twist’ occurred in his career when he was ‘forced’ to become a journalist by Utusan Melayu chief editor Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin. However, his passion lay in editing, and after serving at Utusan Melayu as a journalist and editor for three years, he received various job offers that allowed him to work at newspapers such as Harian Nasional, Mingguan Perdana, Watan, and Berita Harian.
Abdul Wahab, a father of 11, mentioned that his principle of working ‘diligently and addictively’ led to numerous offers as an editor and other assignments. His multifaceted skills allowed him to hold positions such as editor, chief graphic layout artist, and factory manager at Harian Nasional in 1984, showcasing his ability to adapt to various roles within a newspaper.
After finishing his service at Berita Harian in 2000, he was offered a position as an editor at Harian Metro until 2013. Despite the challenges posed by technological advancements in the industry, he urged those working in journalism not to give up and to explore new opportunities in delivering news ethically.
Abdul Wahab, representing 26 media practitioners who received assistance at the event through the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA, expressed his gratitude for the support, which included shopping vouchers and Hari Raya clothing. He acknowledged the government’s commitment to alleviating the burdens of media practitioners in need, especially ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.