Call for establishment of A. Samad Ismail Institute

SHAH ALAM: Former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam yesterday proposed the establishment of an independent institution, or an A. Samad Ismail Chair of Journalism, as an effort to elevate the journalism profession in the country.

Musa said apart from enhancing the quality of journalism, it was also to commemorate the deeds and contributions of the late Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail, a respected figure in journalism and a political activist.

“There is a proposal to establish an institute in honour of A. Samad Ismail. It could be set up in a leading university in the country or maybe we could establish an independent institute.

“(The proposal for the establishment) of this institute can be used as a tribute and, more importantly, as a way to improve the journalism profession in our country, (where it) will be able to enhance its capabilities,” he said.

Musa was speaking at the opening of ‘Symposium Commemorating Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail: Journalist, Public Intellectual, Statesman’, here yesterday. He added that in the current situation, the country urgently needed responsible and trustworthy journalists who did not prioritise monetary gains.

National Journalism Laureate Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar concurred with the proposal, saying that there was a need to establish a school, institution, or chair of journalism in memory of A. Samad Ismail.

“Whatever is decided at the end of this symposium, InsyaAllah it will maintain his legacy as a journalist, intellectual, and a statesman,” he said in his keynote address titled ‘Mencari A. Samad Ismail’.

The symposium, which attracted 150 guests, aimed to discuss the thoughts and contributions of this national journalism figure in the sociopolitical context of Malaysia.