Reports that stand out

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 9, 2026

The Star celebrated its 55th anniversary by reaffirming its dedication to investigative journalism, highlighting impactful stories such as R.AGE’s investigations into child exploitation that led to legislative reforms. This commitment to in-depth reporting and excellence across various media forms has earned the Star Media Group numerous national awards and sustained public trust in Malaysia’s evolving media landscape.

Marking its 55th anniversary, The Star has reaffirmed its commitment to investigative journalism, having built a reputation for tackling challenging stories that spark change and earn widespread recognition. Over the years, the Star Media Group (SMG) has demonstrated a consistent focus on impactful reporting across various domains, including social issues, environmental concerns, and visual storytelling.

One of the most notable chapters in The Star’s investigative history is the work of R.AGE, whose in-depth reporting on child exploitation and trafficking garnered national acclaim and prompted legislative action. In 2017, the team won the Malaysian Press Institute’s (MPI) Kajai Award, the country’s top journalism honor, for “Predator In My Phone,” an investigation exposing child sexual abuse and exploitation. The following year, R.AGE secured the Kajai Award again for the “Student/ Trafficked” series, which led to interventions against colleges implicated in trafficking activities. The impact of this reporting extended beyond the newsroom, contributing to the enactment of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. Additionally, the “Predator In My Phone” campaign received three gold awards at the Marketing Excellence Awards 2017.

The Star’s investigative roots reach further back. In 2010, journalists Elan Perumal and Stuart Michael won the MPI Gold Prize for Best Investigative Reporting for their exposé “Sand pirates,” which revealed a large-scale, cross-border operation involving the illegal extraction and smuggling of sand from Sungai Johor, highlighting enforcement shortcomings in Johor.

Beyond investigative reporting, The Star has demonstrated strength in visual journalism. In 2025, Tung Eng Hwa, Hassan Bahri, and Muhammad Hafeez Aminuddin received gold for Best Climate Infographics at the WAN-IFRA Asia Media Awards. Earlier, in 2019, Tung won gold for Best Cover Design at the MPI Awards, underscoring the importance of compelling visual presentation in complementing editorial content.

In 2024, investigative reporters Bavani M and Shalini Ravindran, guided by whistleblower disclosures, exposed issues concerning flood retention ponds in a series featured in StarMetro. Their work earned gold in the Best Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) category.

The Star’s excellence spans multiple fields, including photojournalism, sports journalism, editorial writing, features, community service, marketing, digital content, and lifestyle coverage. Over the past two decades, the group has amassed numerous accolades reflecting this breadth of achievement.

Recognition extends beyond editorial quality. The Star Media Group secured gold in the Media and Networks category at the 2025 Putra Brand Awards for the third consecutive year, signaling sustained public trust and adaptability amid evolving media consumption trends.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.