Astro Audio’s Nicholas John Secures Gistoric Hat-Trick At KPKT Media Excellence Awards 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, 7 OCTOBER 2026 – Astro Audio journalist Nicholas John has achieved a remarkable milestone after winning the Best Radio Broadcasting Award at the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s (KPKT) Media Excellence Awards (AkeMedia) 2026, completing a historic hat-trick of consecutive podium finishes, including back-to-back Best Radio Broadcasting titles.
Nicholas received the prestigious recognition for his report, “CCTV: Keeping Watch Over The City”, which highlighted the role of closed-circuit television (CCTV) in monitoring urban areas and enhancing community safety. He was presented with a cash prize of RM3,000, a trophy and a certificate by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming at the awards ceremony held at Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
The achievement marks another significant milestone in Nicholas’ growing list of accolades. His AkeMedia journey began with a third-place finish in 2024 before progressing to claim the top honour in 2025. By successfully defending his title in 2026, Nicholas has now recorded an impressive three consecutive podium finishes at the prestigious national awards programme.
The recognition also follows another strong performance earlier this year, where Nicholas secured second place at the PETRONAS Media Excellence Awards, further underscoring his consistency and commitment to producing impactful journalism.
Commenting on the achievement, Nicholas said he was both relieved and delighted that his hard work and dedication had been recognised.
"I’m grateful for this recognition and honoured to receive the award. It motivates me to continue striving for excellence and producing stories that inform, engage and make a difference. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of my colleagues and the entire Astro Audio News team."
Astro Audio News & Traffic Operations Manager Moganadas Muniandy described the achievement as a proud moment for the newsroom and a reflection of the team’s dedication to journalistic excellence.
"Nicholas’ success is a testament to the passion, professionalism and commitment that define our newsroom. To achieve three consecutive podium finishes at a prestigious national award is no small feat. His consistency and dedication are truly commendable, and this recognition reflects the strength and quality of journalism produced by Astro Audio News."
Meanwhile, Director of Astro Audio Priya Dharshini Prabakaran congratulated Nicholas and the Astro Audio News team for their continued pursuit of excellence.
"Nicholas’ achievement reflects the calibre of journalism we strive to deliver across our platforms every day. His dedication, consistency and commitment to telling stories that matter exemplify the standards we uphold at Astro Audio. We are incredibly proud of his accomplishment and of the entire newsroom team whose collective efforts continue to earn industry recognition."
She added that the award reinforces Astro Audio’s commitment to delivering credible, relevant and impactful journalism while continuing to serve audiences across Malaysia with trusted news and information.
Nicholas’ latest triumph not only marks a personal milestone but also highlights Astro Audio News’ continued success in producing award-winning journalism and reinforces the newsroom’s commitment to delivering accurate, reliable and impactful reporting across its platforms.
Listen to the award-winning report here:
“CCTV: Keeping Watch Over The City” – Nicholas John
https://lite.my/podcast/show/9677-english-news/episode/166825