KUALA LUMPUR: The news of the passing of veteran journalist Rozaid Abdul Rahman, 59, is considered a significant loss to the local media industry.
The late Rozaid, who served as Media and Strategic Communications director at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), passed away this eveing at his home in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, due to heart problems.
Several Cabinet ministers and industry colleagues have been deeply affected by the loss of the former Chief Editor of the Sinar Harian Group and extended their condolences to his family.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said Rozaid was a highly dedicated and committed individual in his role, and his personality was greatly appreciated by those around him.
"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. (We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return). It is with great sadness that we receive the news of Mr Rozaid Rahman's passing earlier today. He was a friendly and helpful colleague, and he was deeply respected.
"His passing is a tremendous loss for the media industry, and it is truly felt and mourned. May Allah SWT forgive his sins and grant him paradise. Rest in peace in the eternal abode, Al-Fatihah," he said in a Facebook post this evening.
Fahmi, who is also the government spokesperson, also expressed his condolences to Rozaid's family and friends.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai who is also a good friend of Rozaid was shocked by the passing of Rozaid since he had contacted him last week.
Reflecting on memories when together with Rozaid, Wong said he had known Rozaid since 1990 while working together and became very close friends.
"It is with great sadness that I have learnt of his demise. We had just texted each other last week. I have known him since early 1990 and we covered many overseas assignments together.
"Both of us are Penangites and we share many common interests. He was a very good friend and the last time we had dinner together was to celebrate my birthday and that of my wife's in June," he told Bernama.
Wong said the late Rozaid has delivered many scoop stories including revealing a secret tunnel built by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) along the Malaysia-Thailand border in 1989.
He said Rozaid was competent in both English and Bahasa Melayu, which led him to serve in several major newspapers such as Utusan Malaysia, Sinar Harian and The Star.
"As the strategic communications director at PMO, he was helpful to the media, and certainly it will be a loss to PM (prime minister)," he added.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the late Rozaid was an individual with vast experience in journalism and later appointed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the role of media and strategic communications director which is a challenging position.
"Rest in peace my friend, may Allah SWT bless all your good deeds and contributions to the country. Let us pray that his soul will be placed among the righteous. Condolences to the family, may his family members stay strong. Al-Fatihah," he said in his Facebook posting.
Education Minister Fadlina Sidek, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reformation) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said also offered their condolences through their respective social media platform.
Rozaid, 59, the former Sinar Harian Group Chief Editor ad received treatment at the Sultan Idris Shah Hospital, Serdang (formerly Serdang Hospital) at the beginning of July and believed to be recuperating at home.
The late Rozaid had extensive experience in the field of journalism for over 40 years, after starting his career as a cadet reporter in Utusan Malaysia in April 1984.
The veteran journalist then served as the Group Executive Editor with the Star and served as the Press Secretary to Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin when he was the Higher Education Minister.
He later joined Sinar Harian on Jan 4, 2021 before deciding to end his service with Sinar Harian on Dec 30, 2022.
Rozaid was appointed as Director of Media and Strategic Communications at the Prime Minister's office on May 23, 2023. – BERNAMA