KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — 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 yesterday evening 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.
“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 yesterday.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi paid his last respects to Rozaid at his residence last night.
Ahmad Zahid arrived at 11.30 pm and spent around 20 minutes with Rozaid’s family members.
Also greatly affected by the news of Rozaid’s passing was the chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, who said they had communicated just last week.
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.
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.
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 in 2021 for a year and a half.
Rozaid was appointed as director of media and strategic communications at the PMO on May 23, 2023.
— Bernama
