KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) — The death of former managing editor of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Mohamad Nasir Yusoff today is a great loss to journalism, especially in the context of his contributions as a founding member of Ikatan Setiakawan Wartawan Malaysia dan Indonesia (ISWAMI).
ISWAMI Malaysia president Datuk Mokhtar Hussain said Nasir, 62, who was Bernama’s correspondent in Jakarta, had contributed a lot to efforts to strengthen ties among Malaysian and Indonesian journalists.
“He had close ties with many in the media fraternity in Indonesia, and this made it easier for us to interact with Indonesian journalists.
“In fact, it was the efforts of Nasir and a few others that made ISWAMI strong to this day,” he said when contacted.
The Wakaf Bharu, Kelantan-born Nasir died at 5.48 am at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), after complaining of fatigue soon after arrival from Miri, Sarawak.
His body was then taken to the Serdang Hospital Forensic Department and is expected to be buried at the Sungai Kantan Muslim cemetery in Kajang tomorrow morning.
ISWAMI Indonesia president Asro Kamal Rokan said Nasir had played a sterling role in building relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, especially in journalism.
“I hope at the National Journalists Day (Hawana) celebration in Melaka on May 28, Nasir will be honoured for his contributions in enhancing ties between the two countries,” he said when contacted.
Asro Kamal said from 2010 until the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Nasir had frequently attended the Indonesian National Press Day celebration together with other senior Malaysian journalists, with his last attendance being in 2019 in Surabaya.
ANTARA’s correspondent in Malaysia, Agus Setiawan, said Nasir was not just an editor in Bernama but also a pioneer of ISWAMI.
“Just last Friday he sent his regards and asked to meet up before I left KL. But Allah SWT decreed differently. May his soul be granted husnul khotimah,” he added.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency