KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang was today conferred with Japanese government's prestigious award, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
The award is in recognition for his immense contribution to the world of journalism for more than five decades, and in deepening relations between both countries.
The veteran journalist said the prestigious foreign award he received today was something very special and dear to him, when such an award came from Japan, a leading country in the World League of Nations,
"In recognition of my contribution all these past decades as a media practitioner, or more specifically as a reporter who must have written thousands of news stories on national, regional and international affairs, I have received several awards by the State as well as the Federal governments of Malaysia.
"But this award of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, from the Government of Japan, is indeed very special and dear to me, and by the same token, I believe to Bernama, the national news agency of Malaysia to which I served for 41 years until January 2020," he said in his acceptance speech after receiving the award from Japan's ambassador to Malaysia Takahashi Katsuhiko in a simple ceremony held at his official residence here today.
Azman, who is affectionately referred to as AU by those who know him, rose through the ranks from a cadet reporter to editor-in-chief, general manager and later the chairman, all within Bernama. It is a rare achievement in the local media fraternity.
The Sarawak-born Azman said this year marks the 40th anniversary of Malaysia's Look East Policy (LEP), a game changer aimed to drive Malaysians to a higher level of work culture, discipline and productivity.
Thousands of young Malaysians have had the benefit of studying and graduating in Japan under this policy as well as acquiring hands-on experience, expertise and knowledge of what made Japan such a huge success story today.
"These graduates have contributed and are contributing to Malaysia's progress and development. And equally significant, in fostering closer people to people ties and friendships between our two nations," he said while referring to his son-in-law, Yusuf Karim who was a student under LEP.
Azman, who had shared cordial relations with past Japanese ambasadors in Malaysia said he had the fortune of visiting Japan several times and one takeaway which he would very much love Malaysians to emulate the Japanese is on punctuality.
"Being punctual means strictly observant of an appointed or regular time; not late but prompt.
"Dr Makio Miyagawa, the former Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, explained to me that the problem created by one member of society who does not comply with the agreed time is that it wastes the time of others who comply with it," he said.
Meanwhile, Takahashi in his speech said Azman, being an active promoter of of mutual understanding between Japan and Malaysia and for the past 50 years as a journalist has contributed immensely in deepening relations between the two countries.
"While the then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad initiated the Look East Policy in 1982, Datuk Seri interviewed Japanese residents and Japanese companies operating in Malaysia, and wrote a number of articles introducing Japan's work ethics and high efficiency of Japanese workers ," he said referring to Azman.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Feb 17 2022
Former Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang was today conferred with the Japanese government's prestigious award, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. - BERNAMA
Hamas belum setuju perjanjian, sangsi pendirian Israel
Hamas tidak akan mampu bersetuju dengan perjanjian lengkap jika ia tidak mampu menjamin pendirian israel dalam perjanjian gencatan senjata kekal dan pengunduran sepenuhnya dari gaza.
Menurut pemimipin kanan hamas, osama hamdan pada selasa, israel tidak konsisten dengan pendirian yang diutarakan presiden as, joe biden dalam ucapannya berhubung gencatan senjata kekal dan penarikan diri secara menyeluruh.
Menurut pemimipin kanan hamas, osama hamdan pada selasa, israel tidak konsisten dengan pendirian yang diutarakan presiden as, joe biden dalam ucapannya berhubung gencatan senjata kekal dan penarikan diri secara menyeluruh.
Slovenia iktiraf Palestin dengan undi majoriti Parlimen
Parlimen Slovenia meluluskan pengiktirafan negara Palestin dengan undi majoriti pada Selasa, mengikuti jejak langkah Sepanyol, Ireland dan Norway.
Daripada 27 ahli Kesatuan Eropah, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, Republik Czech, Poland, Slovakia, Romania dan Bulgaria telah pun mengiktiraf negara Palestin.
Daripada 27 ahli Kesatuan Eropah, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, Republik Czech, Poland, Slovakia, Romania dan Bulgaria telah pun mengiktiraf negara Palestin.
Hamas perlu terima gencatan senjata jika benar wakili Palestin
Jabatan Negara tegaskan jika Hamas benar-benar wakili penduduk Palestin, mereka perlu terima perjanjian gencatan senjata demi mengakhiri konflik dan membangunkan semula Gaza.
Cabaran semakin tinggi halang bantuan ke Gaza
Ketua Kemanusiaan PBB, Martin Griffiths, menegaskan cabaran semakin meningkat menghalang bantuan ke Gaza, menyebabkan operasi kemanusiaan sukar dirancang.
Biden sangkal dakwaan Netanyahu hadapi masalah politik di Israel
Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Joe Biden menyangkal dakwaan bahawa Perdana Menteri Israel Benjamin Netanyahu cuba bermain politik dengan perang di Gaza.
19 terbunuh dalam serangan udara rejim zionis di Gaza
Sekurang-kurangnya 19 orang di tengah dan selatan Gaza termasuk dua anggota polis TErbunuh dalam serangan udara oleh rejim zionis pada Selasa.
Menurut penduduk, tujuh belas daripada kematian itu, berlaku dalam serangan udara berasingan Israel di kem pelarian al-Bureij dan al-Maghazi dan bandar Deir-al-Balah di tengah Gaza.
Menurut penduduk, tujuh belas daripada kematian itu, berlaku dalam serangan udara berasingan Israel di kem pelarian al-Bureij dan al-Maghazi dan bandar Deir-al-Balah di tengah Gaza.
Pelbagai mitigasi dilaksana untuk atasi isu gangguan bekalan air di Seberang Perai Selatan
Langkah-langkah mitigasi yang diambil mampu menyelesaikan masalah gangguan bekalan air secara jangka pendek dan panjang.
Malaysia akan dukung prinsip, gerakkan kepaduan sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN 2025
Beliau berkata ASEAN dan Asia Tenggara telah mencapai kemajuan yang luar biasa dalam pelbagai bidang.
Jojo Ghazali, skuad takraw kebangsaan dipilih penerima Anugerah Khas SAM
Ia susulan pencapaian membanggakan atlet tersebut pada tahun lalu, sekali gus melayakkan mereka menerima anugerah berkenaan tahun ini.
Thailand umumkan langkah baharu tarik pekerja mahir
PM komited meningkatkan daya saing Thailand melalui langkah-langkah baharu yang bertujuan memudah cara pemprosesan pelbagai jenis visa.
Bekas Pengerusi Bernama Azman Ujang terima anugerah berprestij Jepun
Anugerah tersebut atas sumbangan beliau dalam mempromosi perasaan saling menghormati serta memahami antara Jepun dan Malaysia.
Lee sambut baik agenda laluan motosikal dalam RMK-12
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye berkata, laluan motosikal amat diperlukan bagi mengurangkan kemalangan jalan raya membabitkan penunggang dan pembonceng motosikal.
Terus sokong akhbar - Azman Ujang
Media kini merupakan bidang amat mencabar susulan ledakan atau transformasi dalam teknologi maklumat.
Kempen kurangkan kemalangan motosikal perlu dipertingkat
Kempen kesedaran itu perlu kerana ia melibatkan keselamatan pengguna jalan raya dan mengurangkan kematian membabitkan penunggang dan pembonceng motosikal.
Nahas bas: Cadangan guna tali pinggang keledar, tiada perjalanan malam
Kemalangan bas ekspres yang meragut 14 nyawa sehari sebelum sambutan Krismas semalam bagaikan siri tragedi membabitkan pengangkutan awam setiap kali musim perayaan.
Apa lagi Samy Vellu mahu?
Penyokong G. Palanivel membantah berhubung satu temu bual yang diberikan kepada akhbar Sunday Star yang menurut mereka satu serangan kasar ke atas Palanivel yang dididik sendiri oleh Samy Vellu.