KUALA LUMPUR: Former New Straits Times journalist David Lazarus, who rose to head the regional information section of the United Nations, collapsed and died at his home in Jalan Ampang here yesterday. He was 59.

With the NST in the late 1970s, he wrote, with a touch of humour, a travel column called Life In A Suitcase.

Lazarus had a stint as foreign correspondent with the now defunct Asiaweek and wrote for several newspapers in Montreal and London.

He joined the UN in the late 1980s and was posted as information coordinator at the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 1993, he was posted as information chief of the United Nations Information Service in Bangkok and worked closely with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific chiefs, Adrianus Mooey and Kim Huk Su.
Lazarus was instrumental in securing UN support for the then fledgling organisation, the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists.

His last posting was as the director of United Nations Information Unit in Jakarta. On retirement two months ago, he returned to Malaysia.

He is also the author of two books -- A Crack In The Mosaic: Canada's Race Relations In Crisis (1980) and Winds Of Change on politics in Malaysia at the beginning of the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad era (1984).

Lazarus loved journalism, his job and people. He had a zest for life and lived it to the fullest. His colleagues found him to be highly motivated, determined and creative in dealing with challenges.

Above all, he was a good provider and a devoted father.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and children -- Annabelle, Adrian and Amelia.

The cortege leaves 23, Jalan Cangkat Ukay, Villa Sri Ukay, on Wednesday for the funeral service at 11am at The Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brickfields.