NST group editor confirms resignation, mum on reasons

News Straits Times' group editor Mustapha Kamil Mohd Janor has confirmed rumours of his resignation but would not comment on the reasons behind his move.

Mustapha ends his 26-years tenure with the English daily at the end of this month.

“Yes it is true. I have tendered my resignation, effective at the end of this month,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

However when asked about rumours that his decision was linked to alleged "interference" in the newsroom, the veteran journalist declined to comment.

“No reason. I will only confirm that I have resigned,” he said.

According to his public profile, Mustapha joined New Straits Times (NST) as a trainee in 1989, before being recruited as a cadet reporter with the Business Times.

He later served as the NST foreign correspondent based in New York from 1999 to 2002.

Prior to his current position, he had served as the managing editor for Business Times and the Lifestyle section.

Veteran newsmen exit

Mustapha Kamil’s resignation comes shortly after Berita Harian - another publication under the NSTP Group - had stopped publishing veteran newsman Abdul Kadir Jasin’s ‘Kunta Kinte Original’ column.

Abdul Kadir, whose writings are known to be highly critical of prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, had at the time noted that there were “greater powers” who could override any attempts from within Berita Harian to defend his column.

Earlier this year also saw another veteran newsman, Ku Seman Ku Hussain, resigning from his post as Mingguan Malaysia editor, ending a 32-year career in various positions with Utusan Melayu Group. -Mkini