Berita Harian journalist Sophia Ahmad won the Kajai Award at the MPI-PetronasMalaysian Journalism Awards 2012 on Wednesday, for her report on 'Fake Degrees'.

Sophia, 35, took home RM30,000 cash, a 100gm gold shilling worth RM16,000 for her expose of syndicates selling fake degree certificates through a private higher learning institution in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

"I am very grateful to my father for having given me the courage and motivation to sustain my journey in this field, of which I still have a long way to go, even though I almost lost hope at one point.

"I encountered many challenges in the preparation of the report, such as having to disguise myself as a buyer of the fake certificate and making sure that the syndicate did not know that I was a journalist," she told reporters here after receiving the award from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Also present were Communication and Multimedia minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Malaysian Press Institute chairman Datuk Chamil Wariya.

The journalism award which is divided into 13 categories also saw Bernama photographer Mazlan Samion scooping the Photo Essay Journalism Excellence prize for his entry, 'Stigma Sakit Kusta' (The Leprosy Stigma) which earned him RM12,000.

Meanwhile, Chamil said 264 journalists representing 26 organisations sent in 491 entries for scrutiny by the panel of judges comprising academicians in journalism, communication and media as well as independent veteran journalists.

He said for the coveted Kajai award, three of the best among 13 entries automatically qualified for consideration.

"The evaluations are done in an objective manner and those who had won can stand proud knowing that their work had been noted as of very high quality," he said.