With long time media friends (from right) Liaw Sin Kuang who works with the Press Division of the Sabah Chief Minister’s Dept, Datuk Lichong Angkui, the Editor of the Utusan Borneo and Jimmy K K Goh, the president of the KK Journalists Association.
By CC Pung, JP
Tokoh Wartawan Sabah and FT Labuan
The occasion was the annual Press Night under the auspices of the KKJA on Saturday (Aug 31).
Time really flies as I recalled how, 30+ years ago, Jimmy and I and a few other journalists mooted the idea of forming a journalist body largely because the then existing Sabah Press Club (since defunct) was on a decline.
I was tasked with drafting the KKJA Constitution which, decades ago, required me to seek input from the Registrar of Society, reading up constitutions of numerous other societies, and trying to put a draft together with my then very raw skill with the computer.
KKJA is easily one of the best sustained Press bodies in Sabah where there are few organisations of reporters.
It’s annual Press Night is always well attended and extremely well supported by public figures and the business community.
The ties with politicians and big businesses have always seemed to be at best a suspicious symbiotic relationship.
My view is not shared by particularly the members who work with the Chinese media.
My concern has always been on how these ties affect a journalist’s sense of fairness, objectivity and independence.
But with the rising influence of social media and changes in public perception, views like mine and increasingly becoming archaic.
Well, I not only enjoyed a free 8-course dinner but also came away with two lucky draw prizes, one an oven toaster (timely replacement for an old one that broke a while ago) and a 65-inch flat screen TV.
I didn’t want to (not that I was anywhere close to being able) lug the ginormous TV home, and Lichong was happy to take over my worries for a heavily discounted trade-off.
Thanks Lichong.
Aside from the ‘harvest’ what made the evening richer was the opportunity to catch up with many old Press hounds, many with thinning and grey hairs, walking aids and grand children in tow.
Cheers, KKJA.
Editor: The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Talantang
