KUALA LUMPUR: A New Straits Times Press (NSTP) journalist bagged the Best Credit Community award at the Local Government Development Ministry Media Excellence Awards.
Suzalina Mohamad Halid from Berita Harian won RM3,000 and certificates for her story titled "Kredit Komuniti mirip along peras peminjam" (community credit resembling ah long's extortion methods) here, tonight.
The Local Government Development Ministry Media Excellence Awards was held for the first time through the ministry's corporate communications unit in collaboration with the Malaysian Press Institute to celebrate and acknowledge the role of the media and continue to supporting the media in producing high quality work.
Earlier in a speech at the launch, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the ministry received 363 entries for the award.
"This ceremony is an appreciation to the media who played a role to deliver true, authentic and reliable information through the coverage of programmes related to development and efforts in making the habitability agenda of the people in this country a success.
"The media is the link that brings the ministry closer to the community through news published on local community issues.
"The media conveys information to the people. The media also conveys the people's complaints to us. The ministry appreciates this symbiosis and the proof is through the organisation of this award," he said.
The award featured 10 categories including the Minister's Special Award with a total cash prize of RM68,000 for 18 recipients from all major platforms including print media, radio, television, portals and multimedia.