Datuk Jojie Samuel

Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Thailand

“As diplomats, we build bridges that connect people from different corners of the world, fostering understanding and building relationships beyond borders”

“In diplomacy, words are the most powerful tools, and tact is the skillful handling of these tools”

Ambassador Datuk Jojie Samuel, an ostensibly affable figure gracing diplomatic events and overseeing the welfare of Malaysians in Thailand, conceals a remarkable journey within the Malaysian Foreign Service. Born in Johor, Malaysia, to Indian immigrant parents, his deep-rooted patriotic fervour seamlessly translated into his vocation as an Ambassador, with a career spanning diverse global postings from Canada to Cuba, with Iraq, Turkey and Austria in between.

At the helm of Malaysia’s diplomatic mission in Thailand today, Ambassador Datuk Jojie is dedicated to fortifying the crucial relationship between the two nations. Yet, behind the façade of diplomatic glamour lies the challenging reality of his role as a peacekeeping diplomat, dedicated to safeguarding Malaysia’s sovereignty and national interests, regardless of the geopolitical landscape.

Recounting his junior diplomat days in war-torn Baghdad from 1998 to 1999, marked by evacuations and surviving bombings during Operation Desert Fox, he reflects, “It’s the hardship postings that inject an unexpected vibrancy into my career, leaving enduring memories.”

Fondly recalling his time in Havana, Cuba, Datuk Jojie shares an unexpected passion for cigars that emerged during his posting. Besides his ambassadorial duties, he briefly assumed the role of President of the Cigar Club, adding a unique dimension to his diplomatic experience.

In his youth, Datuk Jojie visited Thailand numerous times for personal and professional reasons, never imagining he would one day represent his nation in such a prestigious capacity. He is now well into his fifth year in Bangkok. During his tenure as ambassador, he has coordinated and overseen three visits by Malaysian Prime Ministers, engaged with numerous Thai leaders and officials, and diligently nurtured the warm and cordial relationship between the two nations. With retirement on the horizon in less than a year, Datuk Jojie aims to continue fostering relations between the nations before passing the torch to his successor. 

Alvin Chang

Chief Executive Officer of ACG Media Sdn Bhd

“The collection of print in a library, indicates a brilliant mind behind the person, and a well-placed magazine in the living room adds a touch of class and culture, instead of an iPad”

Alvin Chang is the CEO of ACGMEDIA and an Asia-Pacific Ambassador of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) in the design world. He has the Midas-touch in brand building, brand positioning and an influential media authority.

As a media veteran who’s been in the industry for more than 28 years, this is what all marketeers and communications managers spew out whenever we delve into the subject of print, a media option among many others. “Who reads magazines and newspapers nowadays?” they said.

Ever since digital media was introduced in 1986, it revolutionises the market by storm. The music industry was the first to embrace this technology with compact disc and mini disc. Then it evolved into MySpace and Napster. Subsequently, it exploded into other platforms such as Facebook, Hotmail, search engines such as Yahoo, MSN and many others. Today the influence of digital media includes Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat, LinkedIn and many more. I believe there will be many more innovations popping up each year as each new generations find their own space to express their own point of views. People generally want to be heard. But there are pros and cons to such media developments.

While the strength of digital media is in its speed of delivery, it may not necessarily carry the ‘authentication’ of the story. Therefore, one can literally twist and drown out the “voice of truth” in a “sea of lies”, given the information to a sinister mind. We all know that “with repetition, even a lie can become truth” as quoted by Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbel. So, while we gain the advantage of better access to information, greater interaction, more engaging content with creative delivery and lower cost production, simultaneously, we sacrificed facts verification and accuracy, and privacy issue. 

However, print does not have the luxury that digital media offers. Print is slow and meticulous. It cost more to produce print media; therefore, contents must be selective, newsworthy, and useful. The sensory experience of picking up a physical book enhances our pleasure of reading. So, unlike digital media, with metaphorical resemblances to a whimsical sports car, print is the vintage that every collector’s desire. The collection of print in a library, indicates a brilliant mind behind the person, and a well-placed magazine in the living room adds a touch of class and culture, instead of an iPad.

With all said and done, there are no doubt that digital media will continue to dominate every aspect of our lives, as the Gen Z and Gen Alpha eventually will take leadership in future. But as of now, with Baby Boomers still at the helm of print media industry, we will continue to savour the luxury of print while it lasts. Because every vintage has a story.