KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Friday invited the local media to be his partner in his journey to transform Malaysia into a more prosperous and peaceful country.

The Prime Minister said the government needed the media to communicate with the people and educate them throughout the country.

"I would like you to be my partner in my journey to transform the country," he said at the inaugural National Press Club-Naza Awards Night here.

Najib said there was a kind of symbiotic relationship between the press and the government which was absolutely critical to the future and Malaysia's development as a nation.

"The press needs to report on the government just as the government needs the press to communicate its message effectively to the people...I need the press to understand and appreciate the situation in the country, and to communicate effectively and educate the people," he said.

Meanwhile, a Bernama TV crew, who took part in the Viva Palestina convoy, clinched the NPC-Celcom Axiata Rookie of the Year award at the NPC-Naza 2010 Awards Night here.

The crew made up of Bernama TV journalist Kuzaimah Idris, assistant producer Azmawati Azmi, newscaster Masrenny Masri and cameraman Mohd Shafie Abdullah received the award from Najib.

This inaugural NPC-Celcom Axiata press awards ceremony was organised by the National Press Club (NPC).

The Bernama crew was among a 450-strong humanitarian expedition, which handed over four trucks and an ambulance worth 100,000 Pound Sterling (GBP) to Gaza's Elwafa Hospital.

Blogger Kugan Kathegesen was adjudged the winner of the NPC-New Media of the Year award while Utusan Malaysia Group assistant group editor Mohd Zaini Hassan and The Star managing editor P.Gunasegaram were jointly named NPC-Scomi Journalists of the Year.

The NPC-Lifetime Achievement award was accorded to veteran journalist V.K.Chin while the late A.Samad Ismail was posthumously awarded the NPC-Ambank Media Legend award.

Cartoonist Mohd Nor Khalid or Lat was presented with the NPC-Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin 1Malaysian of the Year award. -- NNN-BERNAMA