PUTRAJAYA: The New Straits Times took home the grand prize of a shooting competition organised to celebrate the 2024 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Media Day.
The team comprising journalists Amalina Kamal, Fuad Nizam, Austin Camoens and photographer Aswadi Alias took home the trophy this year for most wins and highest score overall in the competition held at Kelab Menembak Sasaran Shapadu here.
The team scored the highest points overall in the centre-fire category. Additionally, Aswadi also took home the third place medal in the men's shooting category.
Sister publication Harian Metro also won second place in the falling-plates category.
Over 80 media practitioners from various organisations took part in the event, which was attended by MMEA director-general Maritime Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah and MMEA Special Task and Rescue (STAR) commander Maritime Captain Syuzefril Mat Noor.
Rosli thanked the media for reporting on MMEA's operational activities as well as serving as the eyes and ears for the agency.
"The media also played a critical part in raising public awareness about the importance of collectively safeguarding our nation's waters, which are essential to both the national economy and the livelihoods of our citizens.
"Among the key economic activities in our waters are petroleum and gas extraction, tourism, recreation and water sports, which are important sources of economic value that we must collectively preserve," he said.