KUCHING: It was a truly glittering evening for the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) when three of its officers delivered an outstanding performance, collectively winning seven awards, comprising three Gold, three Silver and one Bronze, at the Kenyalang Journalism Awards (KJA) 2025, held here on Saturday.

The three Gold awards were led by Head of the Current Affairs News Section, Muller Asen, who emerged victorious in the PETRONAS Community Wellbeing and Rural Development Journalism Award (Bahasa Malaysia) with his report titled 'Pengorbanan Terlerai, Harapan Terserlah'.

Adding further lustre to his achievement, Muller also secured a Silver award in the Digital Economy category.

Judan Bungap, meanwhile, claimed Gold in the Bintulu Port News Reporting Award (Iban language) and went on to win another Gold in the Sports Reporting Award (Iban language), marking a remarkable double triumph.

The Silver awards tally was further strengthened by Harry Ilias, who won Silver in both the Shell Business and Economic Journalism Award and the Sports Reporting Award.

UKAS also picked up a Bronze through the Broadcasting Journalism Award category.

In addition, four media practitioners across four categories were honoured with the Premier Sarawak Award, the highest accolade presented at KJA.

For the Bahasa Malaysia category, the Premier Sarawak Award was won by Zarina Abdullah from Suara Sarawak.

The Chinese-language category was claimed by Tan Siok Thin of See Hua Daily News, while the English-language category went to Jenifer Laeng of The Borneo Post.

The broadcasting category was won by Monica Gerry from RTM Sarawak.

In the Premier Sarawak Digital Economy Journalism Award, the Gold winners for Bahasa Malaysia were Mohd Shafik Ahmad and Mohamad Fiqri Razak from TVS.

The Iban-language category was won by Sylvester Riang Anding from Suara Sarawak, the Chinese-language category by the Sin Chew Daily team, and the English-language category by James Wong Yun Liang of The Borneo Post.

The broadcasting category was secured by Firdaus Arasy Idris from RTM Sarawak.

Both Premier Sarawak awards were presented by the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.

He also presented the Tokoh Wartawan 2025 award to K.C. Jong, better known by his pen name Yao Yuan, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to journalism, historical writing and community service spanning more than six decades.

Earlier, nine awards were presented by various distinguished guests representing the event’s sponsors.

The Sarawak Premier was also the guest of honour at the ceremony.

The Press Metal Journalism Award saw Gold winners crowned in multiple languages, with Zarina Abdullah of Suara Sarawak taking the Bahasa Malaysia title, Indun Silong of Suara Sarawak winning the Iban category, Tan Siok Thin of See Hua Daily News triumphing in Chinese, and Jenifer Laeng of The Borneo Post winning in English.

For the Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad (BPHB) News Reporting Award, the Gold winners were Syamimi Husna Saji of Suara Sarawak for Bahasa Malaysia, Judan Bungap of UKAS for Iban, the Sin Chew Daily team for Chinese, and Julie Elizabeth Ngadan of Sarawak Tribune for English.

The Sports Reporting Award saw Syamimi Husna Saji winning Gold in the Bahasa Malaysia category, Judan Bungap of UKAS taking the Iban category, Yew Wang Ting of See Hua Daily News winning in Chinese, and Gabriel Lihan Apat Ferguson of Sarawak Tribune securing the English-language award.

In the Broadcasting Journalism Award, the Gold award was won by Monica Gerry of RTM Sarawak.

The Sarawak Energy Sustainability Journalism Award recognised Kalsum Mohammadin of Suara Sarawak as the Gold winner for Bahasa Malaysia, followed by Isabella Nisa Inchang of Suara Sarawak for Iban, Tan Siok Thin of See Hua Daily News for Chinese, and Karen Julan Masing of Sarawak Tribune for English.

The broadcasting category was won by Abdul Aziz bin Soleh, Byron Nyug and Nur Shafiqah Asyikin Hazukki from TVS.

For the Shell Business and Economic Journalism Award, Gold winners included Muhammad Muqri Zulfadhli Abd Aziz of TVS for Bahasa Malaysia, Lina Kunjak of Suara Sarawak for Iban, Wong Leh Ching, Ting Siaw Chui, Ting Hui Yee and John Lister Chan Sze Chieh of Sin Chew Daily for Chinese, and James Wong Yun Liang of The Borneo Post for English.

The broadcasting category was won by Muhammad Hafeezzur Rahman Muzamir, Azmeerul Ahmad Rashid Ahmad and Nur Azmina Syafiqah Dolhan from TVS.

The PETRONAS Community Wellbeing and Rural Development Journalism Award saw Muller Asen of UKAS winning Gold in Bahasa Malaysia, Rengenyan Labang of Utusan Borneo in Iban, Foo Seng Fatt and Chua Yew Yong of Sin Chew Daily in Chinese, and Fasiha Kushiri of Sarawak Tribune in English.

The broadcasting category was won by Kadir Ederson and Farizan Jalal from TV3.

Finally, the BPHB Photo Journalism Award was won by Ling Lew Ching of Sin Chew Daily, while the Hock Seng Lee Photo Essay Journalism Award went to Mohd Alif Noni of Suara Sarawak. -UKASnews

Reporter: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Translator: Uilson Ng
Photographer: Hazrin Sunaini