GEORGE TOWN, July 16 (Bernama) — Having dedicated three decades of his life to the broadcasting world, S. Paandi Durai, one of the faces most synonymous with RTM’s Tamil News, has received the highest recognition for his contributions by being conferred the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which carries the ‘Datuk’ title.
The award was presented yesterday at the Penang State Investiture Ceremony for Awards, Medals, and Honors 2026, held in conjunction with the 85th Birthday Celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) Tun Ramli Ngah Talib at Dewan Sri Pinang here.
Paandi Durai, 61, said the recognition is highly meaningful as it acknowledges his contributions to the media field, alongside his efforts in empowering Tamil language and literature, as well as the development of the Indian community in the country as a speaker, particularly in Tamil literature.
Expressing his gratitude to the Penang State Government and Tun Ramli for the conferment of the state title, he shared that despite his active involvement in the broadcasting world, he had also built a career as a lawyer and still manages his law firm to this day.
“I joined RTM as a part-time TV2 Tamil news presenter, but at the same time, I was also practicing law. Many know me as an RTM person, even though I still run my own law firm to this day.
“For me, both of these careers go hand-in-hand, like a pair of eyes, and I do not view the media field as merely a hobby because it is actually much more than that,” he told Bernama today.
Joining RTM as a TV2 Tamil news presenter in 1993 at the age of 28, he subsequently emerged as one of the most recognisable personalities in the nation’s Tamil broadcasting due to his flawless fluency in the Tamil language, making him an icon among the Tamil community.
In addition to presenting the news, he also hosted Tamil talk shows on TV2 for nearly two decades and remains active today as a host for Tamil literature programmes on Minnal FM.
According to Paandi Durai, his experience hosting live programmes taught him that a host needs to be thoroughly prepared before interviewing guests, rather than relying solely on pre-prepared questions.
“I have never given questions in advance to my guests. I only inform them that I will ask about their respective fields because if all questions are provided beforehand, the discussion loses its ‘spice’,” he said.
Holder of a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London, a Master of Laws, and the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) from Universiti Malaya, he noted that he does not have an academic background in mass communication.
The Penang State Investiture Ceremony for Awards, Medals, and Honors, which took place over four days starting last Saturday, as well as on July 13, 14, and 15, saw 101 individuals receive state titles, while 1,120 others were awarded honorary medals and stars.
— BERNAMA