The media fraternity on Wednesday lost an icon in journalism known as Zainon Ahmad or simply 'Pak Non' who had devoted his entire life to being a NEWSMAN.
Affectionately referred to by his media colleagues as 'Pak Non', the Consultant Editor of The Sun newspaper succumbed to liver cancer at 2.25pm Wednesday at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kota Baharu after being admitted to the intensive care unit, yesterday.
Zainon, 70, who was born in Semeling, Lembah Bujang, Kedah in 1942, left behind wife Hasnah Abdullah, 65, four children and 14 grandchildren.
A History graduate who obtained his masters degree in International Relations from University Malaya, he started his career as a teacher before venturing into journalism, 35 years ago.
He joined The New Straits Times newspaper in 1978 and was promoted to Group Assistant Editor in 1997 before becoming its Consultant Editor in 2001 and the following year joined The Sun as its Chief Editor.
Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) CEO Datuk Chamil Wariya described him as a true journalist whose passion for journalism preceded over other more ambitious aspirations.
"He was a critical social observer because he could not only appraise the facts of an issue perceptively where others might have missed, but also had the ability to translate what they implied accurately," he told Bernama here.
Chamil further recalled Zainon as a "very humble man, very down to earth" and a great joker who never failed to make him laugh.
"He knew how to interact with his readers and understood them, as in his column on current and political issues, 'What they say' in The Sun, and he did not shy away from stating his points where necessary," according to him.
Chamil said Zainon was with them in advocating the formation of the Malaysian Media Council, a body that monitors the media industry in the country.
Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) general manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong who was also involved in the formation of the media council had always noted Zainon's audacity in upholding the media's role.
"Pak Zainon always fought tooth and nail for the independence of the media while maintaining his wit and humour," he said adding that he always admired Zainon's work as he was a master story teller.
"His mastery with words often had the effect of transporting one to the scene of the story," he said.
Meanwhile, The Star's Executive Director/Group Chief Editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai described Zainon as a very open minded person, definitely a true Malaysian and highly regarded among journalists.
"His proficiency in English and ability to communicate in Tamil and Tagalog made him an early journalist in Malaysia who covered the civil war in Mindanao a long time ago; now we missed somebody who could tell us about what really happened in Lahad Datu," he said.
Wong said Zainon had been looking forward to covering the upcoming 13th General Election.
"Today was a very emotional day for me because he is one of the decent men in my life. I never knew he had liver cancer because he looked perfectly healthy," he said adding that he first met Zainon in 1990.
Meanwhile, National Press Club president Mokhtar Hussain said Zainon never disappointed anyone who invited him to give talks on journalism.
"He is a true journalist, a role model to young journalists in the country," he said.
Zainon won the Media Personality Award in 2010, studied Press Management at the Thomson Foundation in London and was a fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tuft University, Boston, United States of America.
His notable quote: "I believe in Malaysia. I believe in multi-racial Malaysia and I think that there is a place for everybody here. If, for instance, all the Indians or the Chinese suddenly decide to leave Malaysia, I think it wont be Malaysia."
Bernama
Wed Mar 27 2013
![We have lost an icon We have lost an icon](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-03/81364379387_295x200.jpg)
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708604164_kasperskyancamans.jpg)
Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini
Kaspersky mengesahkan kurang 50 pekerja akan terkesan, dan mereka akan diberikan pampasan susulan penutupan syarikat tersebut.
![Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721127722_NurFarahKartini.jpg)
Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
Kakak ipar mangsa Syeril Norsyuhada Suhaimi, 29, berkata mereka sekeluarga masih terkejut dan sedih atas kejadian yang menimpa Nur Farah Kartini.
![Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721125507_SultanSelangor.jpg)
Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata
Sultan Selangor Sultan kini berada di hospital untuk rawatan pemeriksaan kesihatan bagi menjalani prosedur pembedahan katarak mata.
Enam MP kekal : Tak adil salahkan Speaker - Gobind
Mengenai keputusan mengekalkan enam kerusi Parlimen bekas ahli Bersatu, Gobind Singh Deo berkata tidak adil untuk salahkan Speaker buat keputusan yang diperuntukkan undang-undang.
![Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721123744_tokandadah.jpg)
Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar
Polis menahan dua lelaki dan merampas dua pucuk pistol serta pelbagai jenis dadah dalam dua tangkapan di Taman Lam Foong, di Alor Setar.
![Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719354914_Destroyedbuildings.jpg)
Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB
Beliau berkata tahap pertempuran dan kemusnahan yang melampau di Gaza tidak dapat difahami dan tidak boleh dimaafkan.
![Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721121786_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memberitahu bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary.
![Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81712376317_TujuanForensik.jpg)
Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas
Gen HNF4A (Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha) didapati akan berhenti berfungsi pada tubuh pesakit kanser pankreas.
Pantau Agenda Reformasi: Potensi dan cabaran percambahan e-Sukan di Malaysia
Pengerusi Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) Negeri Selangor
merangkap Timbalan Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor
E-Sukan mampu mencetak nama Malaysia di pentas dunia. Memahami potensi, kekangan dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan semua pihak dalam melahirkan lebih ramai pemain E-Sukan yang berjaya, seterusnya menyokong pembangunan industri E-Sukan negara.
SRG cipta sejarah pasukan Malaysia pertama juarai MSC MLBB 2024
merangkap Timbalan Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor
E-Sukan mampu mencetak nama Malaysia di pentas dunia. Memahami potensi, kekangan dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan semua pihak dalam melahirkan lebih ramai pemain E-Sukan yang berjaya, seterusnya menyokong pembangunan industri E-Sukan negara.
SRG cipta sejarah pasukan Malaysia pertama juarai MSC MLBB 2024
![Jenazah Pak Non selamat dikebumikan pagi tadi Jenazah Pak Non selamat dikebumikan pagi tadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-03/41364423821_295x200.jpg)
Jenazah Pak Non selamat dikebumikan pagi tadi
Editor perunding akhbar The Sun, Zainon Ahmad, yang meninggal dunia di Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II di Kota Bharu akibat komplikasi hati petang semalam, selamat dikebumikan pagi tadi.
![Wartawan dukacita Pak Non sudah tiada Wartawan dukacita Pak Non sudah tiada](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-03/51364398008_295x200.jpg)
Wartawan dukacita Pak Non sudah tiada
Wartawan, editor dan pengamal media melahirkan rasa sedih mereka atas pemergian wartawan terhormat Zainon Ahmad pada Rabu.
![Wartawan terhormat Zainon Ahmad meninggal Wartawan terhormat Zainon Ahmad meninggal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-03/41364378543_295x200.jpg)
Wartawan terhormat Zainon Ahmad meninggal
Wartawan veteran, Zainon Ahmad, 70, meninggal dunia akibat kanser hati di Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab di Kota Bharu pada Rabu.