Zakiah Anas is best known for hosting 999 (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Zakiah Anas is best known for hosting 999 (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Kamaruddin Mape hopes more veterans will make a comeback later (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Kamaruddin Mape hopes more veterans will make a comeback later (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Azura Abdul Karim was a well-known host of Majalah 3 (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Azura Abdul Karim was a well-known host of Majalah 3 (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Datuk Jasni Shafie began as a part-time reporter for Berita Harian (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Datuk Jasni Shafie began as a part-time reporter for Berita Harian (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Azmi Aziz was TV3’s best known newscaster from Sabah (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Azmi Aziz was TV3’s best known newscaster from Sabah (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Abu Bakar Atan is an icon among sports newscasters (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)
Abu Bakar Atan is an icon among sports newscasters (NSTP/ROHANIS SHUKRI)

Veteran newscasters Zakiah Anas and Azura Abdul Karim believe that juniors and seniors can learn from each other

FANS of TV3's long-running crime documentary 999 will always associate the series with Zakiah Anas.

The veteran newscaster and television host from Bagan Serai, Perak, is the pioneer woman behind 999's famous catchphrase jenayah membawa padah (crime does not pay), and her sweet, caressing voice has "melted" the hearts of many male fans.

"In fact, many viewers have told me that it was my appearance that got them interested in 999!

"They turned on their TV sets just to catch me hosting the show," said Zakiah in Sri Pentas, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, recently.

CRIME DRAMAS

Today, Zakiah, 56, is a freelance documentary host and voiceover talent. She spent 21 years as a newscaster in TV3 beginning from 1993.

"I've always wanted to be a television journalist and pursued a mass communication course in Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam," said Zakiah.

"As a youngster, I grew up watching crime dramas. That's why I decided to specialise in covering crime stories, and this led me to 999, which debuted in 2003."

Zakiah described 999 as a "revolution" in Malaysian television as it was the first crime-related documentary series to be produced.

"999 highlights major criminal cases as well as police work. It's a tribute to our men in blue," said Zakiah.

GORY SCENES

When she was hosting the show, she admitted that seeing dead bodies sometimes gave her the "creeps".

"Most of the dead bodies that I saw were covered. I only looked at the feet and that was enough to tell me about their gruesome fate," said Zakiah, who did so on the guidance of police officers.

HER OWN IDENTITY

Zakiah, who still watches 999, salutes the current set of hosts for "being their own men and women".

"It's always good to have your own identity. That's what my seniors in TV3 always told me back then."

Zakiah is the proud mother of a 15-year-old daughter and two sons aged 26 and 28.

"My eldest son is a good host and handles private events. I've encouraged him to try his luck in newscasting, but he'd rather stick to emceeing."

SUDDEN PROMOTION

Azura Abdul Karim, 54, made a name for herself as the longtime host of TV3's award-winning documentary Majalah 3.

Having joined the station as a newscaster in 1991, she made her debut in Majalah 3 after six months as a result of a "sudden promotion".

"What got me into Majalah 3 was an exclusive interview with the late deputy home minister Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayob.

"I was with the rest of the news reporters waiting outside his house to get him to comment on an important issue. I was the lucky one because his assistants called me in," said Azura.

TRAINED BY VETERANS

Azura, who hails from Taiping, was formerly an air stewardess.

A fan of Majalah 3's most famous host Wan Zaleha Radzi and TV3's pioneer newscaster the late Datuk Mahadzir Lokman, she decided to try her luck as a news reporter and newscaster in the country's first private television network.

"Kak Wan and Abang Dale are my cikgu. I learnt the ropes of good journalism from them, and while they were nice to me, at times they could be demanding," said Azura.

The most important lesson Azura learnt from her seniors was to "always do her homework".

UNDERSTAND WHAT IS PRESENTED

"A newscaster is not just a news reader. One has to read a lot, do research and present one's own news. Most importantly, one must understand everything that is being presented," said Azura.

She also said that reading the 8pm Buletin Utama news was an "exclusive job" and the newscasters were supposed to have a certain aura.

"We had to carry the brand on our shoulders as long as we were prime-time newscasters."

HANDICRAFT BUSINESS

A mother of six children aged between 17 and 32, Azura's youngest child, a daughter, aspires to be a journalist. But she is not keen on following her mother's footsteps.

"I run a handicraft business in Shah Alam and while I haven't been hosting for a long time, I always keep abreast with TV3 programmes," said Azura.

When asked about the makings of a good newscaster, she said newscasters should "always be themselves".

"We should always speak from the heart. Delivering the news requires passion and dedication to tell good stories."

ALWAYS RELEVANT

Azura and Zakiah believe that television news will always be relevant as viewers love newscasters with quality.

"Good presentations by newscasters who do their work passionately will attract good viewership," said Zakiah.

"And newscasters who diversify will have a special place in viewers' hearts," said Azura.

WEEK-LONG COMEBACK

Zakiah and Azura were among 12 veteran TV3 newscasters who made a week-long "comeback" to their former television station on May 26, in conjunction with the station's 38th anniversary, which fell on Wednesday (June 1).

The others were Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, Datuk Dahlan Maamor, Rosli Dahamin, Fuad Rahman, Datuk Jasni Shafie, Abu Bakar Atan, Zainal Ariffin Ismail, Ezzah Aziz Fawzy, Nurfarahin Jamsari and Azmi Aziz.

Media Prima Television Networks group editor of news and current affairs Kamaruddin Mape said that TV3 hoped to invite its legends back annually to mark the station's June 1 "birthday".

"It's always good to reintroduce the Buletin Utama stars of yesteryears to young viewers, and give them a chance to partner with the current crop of newscasters for a week.

"There's a lot that our juniors can learn from their seniors, and even if some veterans could not make it for 2022, we will always invite them for subsequent anniversaries," he said.

SECOND HOME

Jasni, 54, said he began as a stringer for Berita Harian at 18 years old, before joining Utusan Malaysia for six years and finally landing in TV3 from 1998 to 2002.

"TV3 was my second home and I'll always cherish my days as a sports newscaster in the TV station," he said.

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