Two-time Kajai winner Farrah Naz Karim is new NST Group Editor

SHAH ALAM - The New Straits Times Press Berhad (NSTP) has announced that Farrah Naz Karim has been appointed as English daily New Straits Times (NST) Group Editor (GE).

In a statement today, the company, a subsidiary of Media Prima Berhad said her appointment was effective Sept 15.

Its Group Managing Editor Mustapha Kamil Mohd Janor said NSTP will continue to implement changes in the news room primarily to keep up with rapid advances and increasing competition in the media industry.

"As a group, we have made significant progress in this as evident in Media Prima’s financial performance in the last two years.

"NST’s sister publications Berita Harian and Harian Metro are currently leading the digital audience share in Malaysia and NSTP hopes to grow NST to the same level," he said in the statement.

He added that as a responsible newspaper, NST has in recent years strived to operate independently of any outsider influencers including political influence.

As a member of a public-listed company, he said the group was governed by strict corporate governance and transparency, and capable board of directors.

Earlier, online news portal The Vibes reported that current NST GE Ahmad Lokman Mansor was facing an impending removal from his post due to alleged interference by Umno bigwigs who were former second finance minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

It was reported that Lokman was set to be replaced by Farrah with the former given an option to either return to NST's business desk where he had previously served or leave the company.

Farrah has served NSTP in various capacities since 2000 including as the Executive Editor and most recently, she was attached to Media Prima Television Networks as an Executive Producer for current affairs programmes.

According to the statement, Farrah's assignment to NST as GE was in line with NSTP’s strategy to further enhance its content offering.

"Her extensive experience in print journalism combined with her experience in television would be invaluable as Media Prima moves forward in consolidating its news operations across its media platforms," the statement said.