Hata quits as NUJ chief

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — Mohamed Hata Wahari quit today as National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) president after a tumultuous year in charge.

In a brief statement today, the NUJ said the union's executive council had elected as Chin Sung Chew as his replacement.

The decision takes effect immediately, secretary-general V. Anbalagan said on behalf of the union’s executive council.

Mohamed Hata won his two-year term at their annual general meeting last year.

He was a reporter with Utusan Malaysia from 1995 until his April 21 sacking for criticising the Umno-owned Malay daily’s editorial slant.

Mohamed Hata (picture) had said earlier this month that he would remain the NUJ president until his brainchild, Utusan Rakyat, gets a publishing permit and he assumed the editor-in-chief position.

Hata was sacked from Utusan Malaysia for making remarks critical of the Umno-owned newspaper’s editorial slant.

But he had vowed to continue leading the union for greater media freedom.

Hata was terminated from his senior journalist post on April 21, a week after the Umno-owned paper’s disciplinary inquiry said he was guilty of breaching the terms of his contract.