TAHNIAH my fellow columnist Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar for being conferred the award Tokoh Wartawan Negara last week. He joined an elite group of journalists who rose to prominence with their devotion to the printed word on daily newsprint.
After becoming the Editor in Chief of Utusan Melayu in 1992, Johan never looked back.
This gentleman from a small kampung called Sungai Balang in Muar, Johor, found himself leading the Utusan group, seen by many then as the voice of the Malays.
Johan revamped the newspaper and gave a better design that was much more easy on the eye. Coming from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Johan stamped his mark early on with better writing all round.
Johan’s immediate predecessor was the late Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, a legend in his lifetime too. And a previous recipient of the same award. It wasn’t easy to step into Zam’s shoes, but Johan did.
Life is funny. Zam was fired as Editor in Chief, which led to Johan’s entry into Utusan. Johan, too, was later fired, a notoriety that gave those sacked a somewhat more elitist status! Zam went to London after he was sacked and wrote his book Di Belakang Tabir. Johan went back to Muar and became a farmer by growing bananas.
Add another name, Datuk A. Kadir Jasin — and the list of sacked editors ending with more prominence is complete.
In his speech when receiving the award, Johan stressed the need to defend and hold upright the professional integrity of Malaysian journalism. Amidst today’s greater press freedom, this integrity will be subjected to more pressure and intense scrutiny.
Johan is at home writing in English and Malay. He has written several books besides writing plays and performing on stage as a bangsawan artiste.
Syabas, too, to the Malaysian Press Institute for successfully organising this year’s Press Awards. Not to mention congratulations to all winners! It wasn’t always easy to get nominations for various categories of journalism award.
There were many good journalists who refused to have their work nominated for such awards. They felt that it was below their professional dignity to submit their entries.
Back then, in the 1980s and 1990s, there were fewer categories. Today, the competition is far wider. And recognition does come with some financial benefits. Even though the financial rewards are not big, they are encouraging and meaningful.
Mereka semua menulis bukan kerana nama! Tahniah!