FORMER Star assistant editor and mstar editor Fauziah Mohd Johar, higher identified by her pen identify Zieman, handed away at 5.30pm at present on the Universiti Malaya Medical centre from kidney failure. She was 60. Zieman was admitted to UMMC on Dec 8 for numerous medical problems, together with kidney failure. Her dying was confirmed by her son, Qadim Shahir.
A veteran entertainment journalist, Zieman was well-versed with the native entertainment scene and was usually the go-to particular person when it got here to something to do with what was happening with native entertainment and celebrities. Despite her stature as a senior author, she was additionally well-known for mentoring and guiding youthful journalists.
Zieman was additionally an skilled on Bollywood music and movies, lengthy earlier than Bollywood grew to become hip.
Zieman began her profession as a journalist with the New Straits Times within the mid-Eighties earlier than becoming a member of Star Media Group in March 2000.
She joined The Star as Chief Reporter however ultimately grew to become editor of mStar and lastly assistant editor of The Star earlier than she accepted the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) in 2019 and retired.
She was among the many founding members of the Persatuan Wartawan dan Penulis Hiburan Malaysia (WHAM).
She was additionally an acclaimed lyricist, writing hits for native band Headwind (Mu Bagai Mimpi, 1988 and Kasihku Abadi, 2017)), Loving Born (Mengapa, 1988), Rina Khan (Sketsa Cinta, 1991), Alleycats (Sehati Tak Sejiwa, 1998) and Qadeem Shaher (Mengapa, 2020).
Her colleagues knew her to be a a vibrant, pleasant and enjoyable character. Although she was a single mom of six kids, she remained ever youthful and cool.
“She joined Star from a rival media however she rapidly grew to become one in all us. She was the elder sister to many people and was witty and sharp until the top. She was energetic and humour. A giant character, we’ll miss her,” stated Star Media Group chief content material officer Esther Ng.
“Zieman was iconic. She knew each movie star personally and was the go-to particular person. It was frequent to see artistes turning up at The Star to see her. She was actually good in her job. Even now, many celebrities are texting me to search out out if the unhappy information is true,” stated Star Media Group advisor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
“Zieman comes from an period the place entertainment writers have been simply as flamboyant because the pop stars. She had that power, aura and that charismatic confidence that celebrities had. And how she might spot a great entertainment story. Zieman virtually knew everyone within the native pop scene, and might open doorways for you in case you wanted her assist. While she might stroll right into a room and pop stars would cease to stare, Zieman was additionally somebody who put within the hours within the workplace… we noticed her severe aspect as she chased an entertainment scoop, at all times ensuring she had a narrative that will be the discuss of the city,” stated Daryl Goh, StarLife-style editor who labored with Zieman within the early 2000s.
Zieman might be laid to relaxation and the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetary on Thursday (Dec 30) earlier than the Zohor prayers.
