DPM Zahid Pays Tribute, Extends Condolences Over Karam Singh’s Passing

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) --  Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has paid tribute to veteran broadcast journalist Datuk Karam Singh Walia, describing his contributions as instrumental in raising public awareness on environmental issues.

He said Karam Singh, who died this morning, was among the key figures in Malaysian journalism who consistently and effectively brought environmental issues to the forefront of public attention.

“His passing is a great loss to the nation’s journalism fraternity. He will be remembered as a committed figure in highlighting environmental issues, with a distinctive delivery style that remains etched in the memories of many.

“His appearances on television, particularly in field reports, were always captivating. His choice of words, delivery style and unique personality made him a figure close to the hearts of viewers,” he said in a Facebook post.

He also extended condolences to Karam Singh’s family.

Born in 1959 in Teluk Intan, Karam Singh, 67, began his career as a broadcast journalist with TV3 in 1995 before retiring in 2014 due to health reasons.

He was widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential environmental journalists, having won the Seri Angkasa Award twice as well as the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) Award for Best Environmental Television Journalist for four consecutive years from 2004 to 2007.

He was also among the media practitioners who received assistance under the Tabung Kasih @HAWANA initiative in June 2024.

Meanwhile, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching described his passing as a significant loss that leaves a void difficult to fill in the nation’s journalism landscape.

“His voice, delivery style and the pantun that accompanied his reports were iconic and close to the hearts of the people. It was not merely news reporting, but a soulful touch that made him unique and dearly missed,” she said in a Facebook post.

“Indeed, his passing is not just the loss of a journalist, but the loss of a voice that educated, touched and united the people through words,” she added.

She also shared her memory of visiting him in June 2024 to deliver assistance from the Tabung Kasih @HAWANA through Bernama.

-- BERNAMA