Malaysiakini bags silver at Putra Aria Brand Awards

Malaysiakini bagged the silver award at this year's Putra Aria Brand Awards for its branding popularity in 2025.

The news portal was named one of the winners of the “Media & Networks” category, which came with a trophy.

Malaysiakini’s head of operations Tham Seen Hau represented the news portal to receive the award during a gala dinner held at The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Tham said Malaysiakini is honoured to receive the award.

“This recognition affirms the trust our audiences place in Malaysiakini as a credible and independent news organisation. We thank our subscribers, readers, advertisers, and the Malaysiakini team.

“We share this achievement with every member of the organisation who has contributed to sustaining that trust,” she said.

Malaysiakini’s executive editor RK Anand also expressed his gratitude for the prestigious award.

“This award is a tremendous honour and a testament to the dedication, resilience, and hard work of our entire team.

“It reflects the commitment of our journalists to deliver independent, fearless reporting, even under challenging circumstances,” he said.

The Putra Brand Awards were established by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) in 2010.

Both the Putra Brand Awards and the Putra Aria Brand Awards are partners of the Brand Champions Exchange programme, certified by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

Other accolades

This marks the sixth time Malaysiakini has been recognised as one of the top media brands by 4As. Previously, it received bronze awards at the Putra Brand Awards in 2010 and 2014, a silver in 2015, and bronze at the Putra Aria Brand Awards in 2024 and 2025.

While the Putra Aria Brand Awards celebrate Malaysiakini’s standing as a leading media brand, the news portal’s editorial works have also earned accolades.

Last year, Malaysiakini won the Society of Publishers in Asia (Sopa) 2025 Award, widely regarded as the “Pulitzer Awards of Asia”, for excellence in reporting on human rights issues. The awards were won specifically for these three reports:

• Timber grab: The truth behind Pahang oil palm plantations

• Heavy metals found in Kelantan Orang Asli blood, community fear poisoned by mining

• A documentary on “baby snatching” affecting stateless families in Sabah

Malaysiakini’s reporting on the Sabah corruption scandal implicating several state assemblypersons also received an honourable mention for Sopa’s Scoop Award.

The news portal also bagged four gold at the MPI-Petronas Malaysia Journalism Awards last year.

Mkini bags multiple Sopa awards for human rights, environment reports

Malaysiakini team wins Sopa Award for 'baby snatching' story

Malaysiakini bags prestigious Kajai award and more

Malaysiakini's GE15 special project gets Sopa honourable mention

Malaysiakini's 'baby snatching' story shortlisted for Sopa 2024