The late journalist Datuk Karam Singh Walia is recalled as a loving but strict father who stressed knowledge and language excellence to his children
KLANG: The late Datuk Karam Singh Walia is remembered as a loving yet firm father who instilled the importance of knowledge in his children. His second son, Commander Melvinderjit Singh Walia, recalled his father’s emphasis on language mastery.
Melvinderjit said his father would immediately reprimand any use of inaccurate words or phrases at home. He demanded that errors be corrected on the spot.
“In terms of his firmness regarding schoolwork, marks for language subjects, be it English or Malay, had to be 90% and above, it could not be less,” Melvinderjit said. He shared these memories at his father’s residence.
The deceased’s younger brother, Jasbant Singh, highlighted Karam Singh’s unique linguistic talent. He noted that despite no formal education, his brother used language with refinement in his reporting.
Jasbant, the Group Managing Editor of News and Current Affairs at Media Prima Berhad, said this should serve as a benchmark for journalists. “Truly, he was a Malaysian journalism icon,” he added.
Karam Singh began his career as a broadcast journalist at TV3 in 1995. He retired in 2014 due to health issues.
He was recognised as one of the country’s most influential environmental journalists. He won the Anugerah Seri Angkasa twice and the MPI Award for Best Environmental Television Journalist for four consecutive years.
His remains were taken to the Simpang Lima Hindu Crematorium for the final rites.
