Kuala lumpur: A journalist and a photographer from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Melaka Bureau won two awards at the Melaka Chief Minister's Media Awards 2025 here tonight.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Fakri Awang Lah, the Bernama Melaka Bureau Chief, was awarded the Outstanding TV News Report Award (Jebat). He received RM500 in cash and a certificate from the State Executive Councillor for Rural Development, Agriculture, and Food Security, Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh. His award-winning news report, "IoT Ubah Kehidupan Pesara Tentera kepada Petani Modem" (IoT Changes the Life of an Army Veteran into a Modern Farmer), was his sole entry in the TV news report category.

Bernama Melaka Bureau Photographer Muhammad Zulhilmi Daud was honored with the Outstanding Photojournalism Award (Jebat), also receiving RM500 and a certificate presented by the State Exco for Tourism, Heritage, Arts, and Culture, Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.

Mohd Fakri, 37, has been with the Bernama Melaka Bureau for about five years. He expressed surprise at his victory, noting that, despite submitting five entries in other categories, this was his first win at the Melaka Chief Minister's Awards. He described his win as a catalyst for future endeavors in news reporting related to Melaka.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Zulhilmi, 35, who has served the bureau for eight years, expressed that the award deeply touched him. He views it as a recognition that will inspire him to continue capturing compelling photos for Melaka and Bernama.

During the ceremony, Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj received the Melaka Chief Minister's Special Award, which included RM1,000, a plaque, and a certificate. The award was presented by Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and accepted on Arul Rajoo's behalf by Mohd Fakri.