KUALA TERENGGANU: Hambali Abdul Latiff, a former Berita Harian journalist and the first recipient of the prestigious Kajai Award, died of heart attack at his home in Taman Permint Jaya, Kuala Terengganu early this morning.
The 1983 Kajai Award recipient fell at his home and had breathing difficulties before he died while sitting on a chair in the presence of his son Irfan Rafiqin.
Hambali won the award – the highest journalism award by the Malaysian Press Institute – over his news report on ‘Meninjau Kehidupan dan Pekan Koboi Rengit’.
His life’s journey was never away from journalism, a subject and career he loved most.
He was also a former editor of Harian Metro, and in 2008 he became a researcher for former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.
Hambali was instrumental in the setting up of the first radio station for Terengganu called Manis FM, which is popular among the people because of its current content and use of local dialect in some of its programmes.
During his days as journalist with Berita Harian, Harian Mentro and the state publication Teganu Kite, he often broke many thought provoking analytical stories, mostly political.
Hambali is loved by friends and foes for his quick thinking and wittiness and recognises the importance of contacts.
When he was the editor of Teganu Kite in 2009, he shared his experience with a batch of pioneering reporters to publish the fortnightly bulletin and spent hours off working hours to train his team to produce quality stories that appealed to the readers.
His working life was indefatigable and his dedication made him a respected person among colleagues, politicians and the people he met.
Hambali was laid to rest at the Sheikh Ibrahim Muslim cemetery in Kuala Terengganu at 10.30am.
