KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent media figure and award-winning journalist Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, who has just been appointed as the new chairman of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) for a two-year term from Sept 1, is no stranger to the news agency.

Wong, who has over 38 years of experience in the media industry, has served as a member of the news agency's Board of Governors from 2004 to 2010 and its Supervisory Council from 2010 to 2014.

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the appointment of The Star Media Group Berhad Adviser, which was consented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, today.

Wong replaces Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi whose service ended on Jan 23.

Wong, 62, who is also the Asian Leadership and Strategic Institute director, has the distinction of being the first Malaysian to be elected into the Paris-based World Editors Forum and is also an adviser of the Bangkok-based Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 leading news organisations.

The Penang-born Wong graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) where he studied political science and history in 1984.

Wong has also served as an adjunct professor at the Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and is currently an adjunct professor on media at UKM's Faculty of Humanities and Social Science.

He has also undergone leadership and financial courses in various prestigious universities in the United States, including the University of Southern California and the University of Stanford under the Bank Negara programme.

In 2003, he won the prestigious Best Journalist Award for news features from the National Press Institute for his investigative article on Malaysian terrorists and their arms training in Afghanistan.

In the same year, Asia Inc., a regional business magazine, named Wong in a list of Asia's top 50 young movers and shakers. He was then the deputy group chief editor.

Wong was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership in Media Industry by the World Chinese Economic Forum in Chongqing, China in 2014, and won the media leader title in 2015 from the McMillian Woods, a renowned accounting firm.

Since 2012, Wong has served, among others, as a member of the Governance Council of the National Innovation Agency in the Prime Minister's Department, a trustee of the Global Movement of Moderates, an adviser to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and a member of the National Recovery Council.

-- BERNAMA