Pemergian tokoh wartawan terhormat, Zainon Ahmad, 70, pada Rabu mengejutkan dunia kewartawanan tanah air. Kehilangannya sangat dirasakan oleh wartawan, pengarang dan pengamal media secara keseluruhannya.

Dedikasinya yang tinggi kepada kebebasan media serta kewartawanan yang bermutu sangat dikagumi.

Kepada wartawan generasi baru, beliau dianggap sebagai seorang bapa sekaligus guru yang tidak pernah memandang rendah kepada sesiapa pun dan tidak pernah pula meninggi diri kerana pengalamannya yang luas.



• “A bright light of Malaysian journalism has been extinguished. May Encik Zainon rest in peace. You have more than earned your rest. Farewell, old friend...I don't know about his positions in NST. But I know he is always in the forefront when it comes to press freedom and independence of journalists. He is our voice and conscience.”
-- Chong Cheng Hai of Focus Malaysia.

• “He was like a father figure. His laughter and all that...everybody came to him for counsel and advise. He was a very principled journalist and worth admiring. We owe so much to him."
-- Shoba Devan of theSun

• “When I first met Zainon Ahmad, he greeted me in Tamil and told me not worry about a thing, being a rookie and all. Who would have known that would have been our last encounter. Rest in peace Pak Non :(”
-- Pathma Subramaniam of FZ.com

• “Today's a sad day. The nation lost a great and highly respected journalist with ten thousand old war stories who always has a little smile quirking at the corners of his lips. Rest in peace Pak Non (Zainon Ahmad)” -
- Azril Annuar of FZ.com