KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — Malaysian National News Agency’s (Bernama) English sub-editor Muharyani Othman, 68, died of cancer early this morning.
Her sister, Norazuwa Othman said Muharyani died at the National Cancer Institute in Putrajaya at about 2am after being admitted to the institute last Sunday.
“My sister’s health had deteriorated since last Thursday, she had difficulty breathing and lost her appetite to eat.
“She was a generous person, liked to give alms and was responsible to the family. She was also a happy-go-lucky person but at the same time she was firm,” she said when met by Bernama at the Al Mukminun Mosque, Subang Jaya today.
Her remains will be laid to rest at the USJ22 Subang Jaya Muslim Cemetery before Zohor prayers.
The late Muharyani joined Bernama Domestic News Service English Desk as a sub-editor on March 1, 2007, on a contract basis.
The National Press Club (NPC) vice-president was previously with The New Straits Times (NST).
Bernama English Desk chief sub-editor Nor Hasliza Abdullah described Muharyani’s death as a great loss to the department in particular.
“She was a great, kind-hearted friend and a true journalist and sub-editor with so much grit and enthusiasm. She had contributed so much to the organisation and others,” she said.
NPC president Datuk Ahirudin Attan said Muharyani will be remembered as someone who did not allow the ‘big C’ (cancer) to disrupt her love towards journalism and organisational work.
“She still came in and enjoyed herself, she did want people to see her sick sometimes. In fact, she would be the one who cheered them up,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Women Journalists Association (Pertama) president Sariha Mohd Ali said Muharyani, who served as Pertama president from 2007 to 2016, had extensive experience in the field of journalism and had given her a lot of guidance in managing the association.
She also described Muharyani as a person who loved to share her knowledge on work or association-related matters.
“It is indeed a great loss to Pertama…even though she was diagnosed with cancer, she still enthusiastically participated in our activities including the National Journalists Day (Hawana) celebration in Melaka last year.
“Her illness was not an obstacle for her to remain active until the end of her life,” she said.
— Bernama
