- Tue, 25 March 2025
The Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) formerly known as the Institut Akhbar Malaysia (IAM) is one of Malaysia’s oldest journalism training institutions.
MPI’s history dates back to 1966, when the South East Asia Press Centre (SEAPC) was established as the primary provider of journalism training for media practitioners in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia.
However, when the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Press Foundation of Asia (PFA) decided to discontinue funding for SEAPC, the training center was rebranded as the Institut Akhbar Malaysia (IAM). The decision was formalized during an SEAPC’s Council meeting held at the national news agency, Bernama in June 1974.
The final chairman of the SEAPC’s Council was Melan Abdullah, who was then the Group Editor-in-Chief of Utusan Melayu. He stepped down from the role following his retirement in 1973.
The first chairman of IAM (now MPI) was A. Samad Ismail, who was serving as the Group Managing Editor of The New Straits Times Press Berhad at the time.
The official renaming of SEAPC to IAM was announced by Bernama’s General Manager, Mohd Sopiee Ibrahim on June 18, 1974 as reported by Utusan Malaysia the following day.
On July 19, 1974, IAM was formally registered as an organization under the Societies Act. It continued SEAPC’s role of providing short-term journalism training but this time with financial support from the Malaysian government and local media organizations.
To sustain its operations, the Malaysian government initially granted IAM RM50,000 annually which was later increased to RM100,000 and subsequently RM200,000. Additional funding was secured through sponsorships and corporate contributions.
Sopiee emphasized that IAM was not established to compete with institutions like Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) which at the time offered diploma and degree programs in journalism.
USM was the first public university to introduce a communication studies program in 1969 followed by ITM in 1972. Both universities incorporated journalism as part of their broader communication and mass communication curricula.
The New Straits Times on June 19, 1974 quoted Sopiee as saying that IAM’s mission was to continue SEAPC’s role in offering practical, short-term courses for Malaysian journalists.
IAM did not aim to compete with or replace the communication courses offered by universities. Instead, it was designed to complement these academic programs by catering to the evolving needs of Malaysia’s media industry.
Between 1964 and 1974, the number of journalists in Malaysia grew by 300% creating an urgent need for structured journalism training.
Sopiee noted:
“In 1965, there were fewer than 300 journalists in Peninsular Malaysia. Today there are around 1,000 with an estimated annual intake of over 60 new journalists.”
He also highlighted a major challenge:
“At the same time, a significant number of experienced journalists were leaving the profession to become public relations officers which offered more lucrative salaries.”
Given this scenario, he stressed the importance of intensive journalism training programs for new reporters.
Sopiee further explained that the SEAPC’s Council unanimously agreed to rebrand the center as IAM, adopting SEAPC’s existing constitution to strengthen its role in journalism training.
He believed that while ITM and USM graduates would enter journalism, many newspapers would continue recruiting individuals with HSC/STP, MCE, and SPM qualifications as reporters.
Thus, IAM/MPI was tasked with training non-graduate journalists through hands-on, practical experience, similar to the approach used by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) in the United Kingdom.
Over the past five decades, IAM/MPI has operated from five different locations: Bangsar, Brickfields, Petaling Jaya and Taman Tun Dr. Ismail.
In 2009, it moved to a government quarter building on Jalan Bukit Ledang, Kuala Lumpur. Later, in 2018 it relocated to Radius Cyberjaya where it continues to operate today.
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Malaysian Press Institute or popularly known as MPI, was instituted as a foundation on 13th of April 2007 under the Malaysia’s Company Act of 1965. Prior to that it was known as Institut Akhbar Malaysia (IAM), a non-governmental organisation, registered under the National Society’s Act. IAM was established in 1968 by the Malaysian media with the support of the government via the Ministry of Information, mainly to provide basic training in journalism for Malaysian media practitioners as, unlike today, there was no journalism, media or communication school in the country then. It was then known as South East Asia Centre in 1966.
In 1980, MPI became the body to recognise the nation’s best to journalism works and products when it launched the Hadiah Kewartawanan Malaysia (HKM) or the Malaysian Journalism Prize, similar to that of the Pulitzer Prize in the United States. The HKM remains as the premier journalism award until today.
MPI embarked on its publishing journey with a focus on media and communication, aiming to provide valuable reference materials for students, academics, and media professionals. Its inaugural publication, Membongkar Penyelewengan, Mencari Kebenaran, was released in 2012. Moving forward, MPI is dedicated to launching a Jurnal Kewartawanan as Malaysia’s centre for reference and research.
Major Milestones of MPI, 2008-2015
Registration as a foundation approved by Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Afdal.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Thomson Foundation of Cardiff, United Kingdom for cooperation in training. MPI represented by its Acting Chairman Datuk Chamil Wariya and Mr Russel Lyne the Head of Development of Thomson signed for the foundation at the Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur. The Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin witnessed the ceremony. Two International Journalism Fellowship (IJF), one in 2008 and another in 2009 had been successfully carried out with Thomson’s cooperation. Also, a panel of experts of the Foundation provided separate training sessions for local journalists.
MPI carried out operations fully as a non-profit organisation. Datuk Chamil Wariya, commenced duties as the Chief Executive Officer while still being the chairman succeeding Datuk Seri Azman Ujang who relinquished his post after his retirement from BERNAMA.
The first International Journalist Fellowship programme launched by Information Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Chik at Rumah Universiti, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
MPI relocates to new premises, a former government quarters at 2945, Jalan Bukit Ledang, off Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur.
MPI collaborated with the United States Embassy Kuala Lumpur to organise the Workshop on Reporting on Trafficking in Persons.
Inks agreement with PETRONAS to continue sponsorship of the Malaysia MPI Petronas Journalism Awards Malaysia for a further five years until 2014. Prizes offered: RM300,000.00 for 13 categories contested. MPI represented by its Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chamil Wariya while PETRONAS by its Senior General Manager of Corporate Affairs. The signing was witnessed by Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Merican, the Chief Executive Officer of the national oil company.
The programme of Zamalah Wartawan 1Malaysia launched by Information, Communication and Culture Ministry Secretary General Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf on behalf of the minister Datuk Seri Utama Rais Yatim.
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) for conducting academic courses at post graduate level, starting September 2011. The specialised programme was for journalists to pursue for a master programme in managerial communication but could not be carried out because there were not enough participants. MPI was represented by Datuk Chamil Wariya and UUM by its Vice-Chancellor Datuk Dr. Mustapa Ishak.
The Institute of Journalism Studies (IJS), Universiti Teknologi MARA and MPI officially signed an agreement to collaborate in organizing seminars, research and publication.
MPI unveils an exclusive trophy for the grand winner of the Malaysian Journalism Award MPI-PETRONAS.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) on September 28, 2016, a commemorative coffee table book, Perjalanan Lima Dekad Malaysian Press Institute launched. The book, which highlights the institute’s journey over the past five decades was officially launch by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the Malam Wartawan Malaysia.
The Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) officially received the keys to two newly acquired office units at Radius Business Park, Cyberjaya purchased from the Emkay Group. This acquisition was approved by the MPI Board of Trustees and the MPI Council Members during a joint meeting held on August 19, 2016.
MPI received the keys for the purchase of a one-unit workspace at Radius Cyberjaya, which will be developed into another multifunctional training centre for the Institute.
Datuk Mustapa has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of MPI.
MPI convened an extraordinary meeting during which three key positions of the MPI’s Council were up for election: President, Deputy President, and Vice President. Datuk Yong Soo Heong, the current Chief Editor of The Weekly Echo news portal, was elected as President while Farrah Naz Karim, Group Editor of The New Straits Times (NST) was appointed as Deputy President and Brian Martin, Editorial Director of Star Media Group, was elected as Vice President.
Tuan Haji Ainol Amriz Ismail has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of MPI.
The Council of MPI comprises seasoned professionals from leading media houses, united in their dedication to journalistic excellence. Their expertise drives MPI’s mission to empower and innovate within the media industry.
President
Deputy President
Vice President
BERNAMA
Sinar Harian
TV3
Sin Chew Daily
Persatuan Wartawan Sabah
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Chief Executive Officer
General Manager
Senior Manager, Business Development
Senior Manager, Training
Senior Manager, Finance & Account
Manager, Award & Administrative Support
Senior Executive, Training
Administrative Secretary
Executive, Management
Creative Content Trainee
Intern
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