Malay Mail Online expands newsdesk leadership, rewarding both youth and experience

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 ― Three assistant news editors with Malay Mail Online have been promoted to take on wider responsibilities while three senior reporters move up to become assistant news editors.

Leading the promotion list is assistant news editor Debra Chong Hsin-Dee, 37, who will become executive news editor heading the news desk.

Chong began her career at The New Straits Times as a feature writer in 2004, before joining The Malaysian Insider in 2008 as a news reporter. She is part of the pioneer team that started Malay Mail Online in June 2013.

Clara Chooi Ai Leng and Justin Ong Hian Pang, both currently assistant news editors, will be promoted to news editors in charge of Operations and Copy, respectively.

Chooi, 30, worked in The Star from 2005 until 2009, and later joined the reporting team at The Malaysian Insider, after which she moved to Malay Mail Online when it started.

Former motoring writer Ong, 37, was hired by The Malaysian Insider as a sub-editor in 2009 before moving over to Malay Mail Online as part of the pioneer team as well.

Reporters Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, Joseph Sipalan Jr and Boo Su-Lyn will now take up the assistant news editor positions vacated by the three.

Shazwan, 28, was with The Malaysian Insider from 2009 to 2012 before he left to pursue a Masters degree in the UK under a Chevening scholarship. He joined Malay Mail Online as a senior reporter in January 2014.

Joseph, 33, started as a rookie at The Borneo Post in Kota Kinabalu in 2000, and has since worked for several other news organisations including Daily Express in Sabah and New Straits Times, Malaysiakini and The Star in Kuala Lumpur.

Boo, 28, was also formerly with The Malaysian Insider, joining in 2010 until she moved to Malay Mail Online in June 2013. She has also worked with women's and children's rights organisations such as Voice of the Children, World Vision Malaysia and the All Women's Action Society.

Joseph and Boo both currently serve on the Institute of Journalists Malaysia’s (IoJ) Board of Governors as chairman and secretary, respectively.

Malay Mail Online executive editor Leslie Lau said the new appointments reflect the management's trust and confidence in its young team's ability to take the company to greater heights.

"We are hoping that the new editorial leadership will see a more dynamic and relevant news website emerging for our readers," he said. "We believe in youth and we want to also harness a steady stream of young talents to lead the company.

"We want to keep our brand fresh and relevant always and the best way is to let the younger staff take a more pivotal role," Lau added.

Others promotions include reporters Syed Jaymal Zahiid, Zurairi AR, Pathmawathy Subramaniam, Ida Lim Lee Ting and Melissa Chi Li Ping who will be made senior correspondents in Kuala Lumpur.

Reporters Julia Chan Yee Ling and Opalyn Mok Pui Foong will similarly be appointed as senior correspondents, with the former in charge of Sabah and Sarawak while the latter covers Penang.

Malay Mail Online was joined this year by Azlyn Balqis, its first social media and marketing manager, and news reporter Yiswaree Palansamy.

Azlyn was previously with Astro Radio and was responsible for many of the social media campaigns for Hitz.fm.

Leaving the team is money editor Sivakumar Sithraputhran, a former correspondent with Reuters.

The new appointments take effect in the new year.