KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — Al Jazeera’s 101 East won the best current affairs programme award at the Asia Television Awards last Sunday, edging out competitors with its documentary on notorious wildlife smuggler Anson Wong.

The international news channel said today that its Kuala Lumpur-based team had defeated other international networks like CNN, BBC, CNBC and CCTV.

“The most recent half-hour episode that won the hearts of the judges was the year-long investigative report, ‘The Return of the Lizard King’, which featured Malaysia’s convicted wildlife smuggler Anson Wong,” said Al Jazeera in a statement today.

Al Jazeera cited other reports like exclusive interviews with Mongolian sumo wrestlers and Japan’s Yakuza, as well as cutting edge coverage in Myanmar that had helped it win the award.

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“It’s proof of our commitment to tell stories of life in Asia, from those on the street to those in power. Our style has been to provide a balanced coverage to any issues,” said 101 East programme editor Sharon Roobol.

The international news channel’s documentary on Wong had revealed that the infamous wildlife trafficker was back in business, despite being convicted in 2010.