Veteran journalist Joseph Bingkasan, former editorial head for Sabah and Sarawak at the New Straits Times, has died at the age of 71.
KOTA KINABALU: Veteran journalist Joseph Bingkasan, the former editorial head of the New Straits Times for Sabah and Sarawak, has died. He was 71.
His son, Lester J Bingkasan, confirmed he passed away at Hospital Queen Elizabeth II here early today. “My father passed away this morning,” Lester, who is also a journalist, told Bernama.
He said his father had been battling bone and prostate cancer and was undergoing haemodialysis. The family is currently making funeral arrangements and will share further details later.
Joseph Bingkasan was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and also suffered from kidney failure and hypertension. His extensive journalism career began in 1977 as a sub-editor with the Kinabalu Sabah Times.
He later joined New Straits Times Press as a correspondent in Sabah and also served at the Times of Malaysia London Ltd. He was appointed editorial head of NST Sabah and Sarawak, based in Kuching, and had also worked with Sabah’s Daily Express.
In 2023, he was a recipient of the Tabung Kasih Hawana, presented by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil during a visit to his home in Kampung Kionsom, Inanam.