Abdul Rahman, a respected figure in media industry

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sulaiman who passed away today was a respected journalist who had contributed a lot to the country since he joined the media industry, especially when he served with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).

Abdul Rahman, 75, who died at the Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Cheras here at 4 pm due to a heart attack, had served in various media organisations since entering the field in 1966.

Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a Master's degree in Management from the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Abdul Rahman began his career as a journalist at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) in September 1966 before joining Bernama as a senior journalist in September 1971.

Between 1971 and 1995, he had served as the Johor Bureau chief; correspondent for Thailand and Indo-China; chief sub-editor; chief news editor; executive editor of the General News Service; and editor-in-chief for Bernama.

However, Abdul Rahman opted for early retirement to contest in the Ninth General Election in April 1995 as Barisan Nasional candidate for the Parit Buntar parliamentary constituency, which he won.

Among his notable contributions was leading the Crisis Communications Department at the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) during the tail end of the Asian financial crisis in 2001.

He continued serving the NEAC after it was renamed the National Implementation Directorate under the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department, which was tasked with overseeing and monitoring projects and programmes under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Following the dissolution of the Directorate, he was appointed as the 10th chairman of Bernama for six years from February 2010 to January 2016.

After completing his tenure as Bernama chairman, Abdul Rahman was appointed advisor and head of the National Communications Team in the Prime Minister's Office.

As the former student leader during his university days, he was also active in politics and voluntary organisations and was the Parit Buntar UMNO Division chief for two terms from 1995 to 2001.

Abdul Rahman also held the position of deputy president of the Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) for the 2017-2020 term.

He is survived by his wife Puan Sri Maznah Adam and three children.

Several national leaders have expressed their condolences to the family of Abdul Rahman.

Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak described Abdul Rahman as an experienced figure who was well-liked in the media industry.

According to Najib, when he was the sixth Prime Minister, the deceased had served in the Prime Minister's Department and the Prime Minister's Office with his communications team.

"My condolences to his family. Let us pray for his soul to be placed among the righteous. Al-Fatihah," he said in a post on his Facebook page.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the late Abdul Rahman was a good friend since the UMNO days.

"I pray that his soul is placed among the pious and those who do good deeds. My condolences to the family of the late Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sulaiman," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid described Abdul Rahman's passing as a loss to the field of journalism.

"May his soul be placed among the believers. My condolences to his family," he said in a post on his Twitter account.

-- BERNAMA