FAHMI VISITS NATIONAL JOURNALISM LAUREATE ADIBAH AMIN

SHAH ALAM, March 16 (Bernama) -- Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil today visited National Journalism Laureate Adibah Amin at her residence here.

Fahmi also handed over a contribution from the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA initiative to Adibah, the 671st recipient to date.

Also presented was a contribution from the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department (ICU JPM) on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Today we came to see how she is doing. She is now 90 and staying with her sister, and we pray that she remains in good health,” he told reporters.

Present were senior press secretary to the Prime Minister, Tunku Nashrul Abaidah; Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin; Broadcasting director-general Ashwad Ismail and Selangor ICU JPM deputy director Najmuddin Jemain.

Adibah is currently in poor health due to her age and requires full-time care. She also suffers from diabetes and is now bedridden.

Known for her role as ‘Cikgu Bedah’ in the comedy film ‘Adik Manja’, she is a respected figure in Malaysia’s journalism and literary circles.

Fahmi said that Adibah previously served as editor at The Star and New Straits Times, and made history as the first woman to be appointed news editor at Berita Harian.

In June 2024, she was named National Journalism Laureate 2023 at the Malaysian Journalism Night, in conjunction with the 2023 MPI-Petronas Malaysian Journalism Awards.

Fahmi said young journalists should emulate Adibah’s dedication to strengthening the journalism profession in the country.

“My hope for young journalists is that they understand the struggles of their predecessors and realise that they are not just reporting, they play a role in shaping an independent and sovereign nation while maintaining professional standards and ethics,” he said.

Meanwhile, Adibah’s sister, Khalilah Fadzilah Amin, 87, expressed her gratitude for the care and attention shown to her ailing sister.

“I wish to thank everyone who has helped my sister. I truly appreciate their visits and concern for her well-being,” she said, adding that a book on Adibah’s life will be launched on April 12.

-- BERNAMA