Journalism icon Mazlan Nordin, who died yesterday at the age of 86, was laid to rest today at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery.

Present were his family members, friends and members of the media as well as former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, former RTM director-general of broadcasting Ibrahim Yahaya, Bernama chairperson Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, Media Prima chairperson Johan Jaafar and National Press Club president Mokhtar Hussain.

Mazlan died at the University Malaya Medical Centre at 4.15pm.

Zainuddin said the journalism world has lost an extraordinary member who had had been involved in the profession until the very end of his life.

“His last article will be published in Mingguan Malaysia three days after his death. He was a highly committed and knowledgeable journalist, and had kept himself abreast with all the current development,” Zainuddin told Bernama .

Ibrahim described Mazlan as irreplaceable and someone who had stayed true to the profession.

Mazlan had worked with the Utusan Melayu newspaper, the Voice of America and the Berita Harian newspaper. He was the first chief editor of Bernama .

In his later years, he also served as the chairperson of the news agency.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) awarded him an honorary doctorate in communication in 2005 for his contribution to the field of journalism.

He was also bestowed the Most Eminent Journalist award in 2002 by the Malaysian Press Institute and the Journalist of Distinction award by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2009.

He leaves behind four sons and a daughter as well as four grandchildren.

- Bernama