The assignment seemed straightforward enough: Interview a husband-and-wife duo about their vintage goods store Treasure At Home, write about their entrepreneurial journey, then file it before turning his attention to the next story.
But Syed Muhammad Firdaus, 29, also chose to stay in touch.
That decision would prove pivotal when, a few months later, the couple reached out with something unexpected: Their son, Emyr Uzayr Mohamed Sadri, and his friend, Prajesh Dhimant Patel, were about to embark on a deeply personal journey in their attempt to summit Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia.
Both former students of Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS), Emyr and Prajesh were part of a school expedition – with 29 students and eight teachers – to Mount Kinabalu a decade ago when a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Sabah on June 5, 2015. It hit the group while they were on the Via Ferrata “Walk the Torq” trail, and claimed the lives of seven TKPS students and two teachers.
Emyr and Prajesh were among the survivors. 10 years on, they were returning to complete the climb that they never got to finish – and they wanted Firdaus, a reporter for Berita Harian Singapura, to tell their story.
Firdaus immediately understood the weight of what they were asking him. The tragedy had stayed with him for a decade; he remembered the news coverage and the grief that rippled through the country.
“It was not just about conquering a mountain – it was about completing an unfinished chapter and honouring friends they had lost. They wanted me to document their journey to provide closure for their friends and the family members involved,” he recounts.
“It is important to form connections with the people we interview and find common ground. That connection is how we earn trust – and trust is how we get to the truth.”
– Syed Muhammad Firdaus, recipient of the SPH Media Journalism Scholarship
That trust moved him profoundly. “Without them having the courage to go back to that mountain, I wouldn’t have been able to write this story in the first place. Being involved in a small way 10 years later left a real impact on me,” adds Firdaus.
Published on May 22, 2025 – the same day the then-22-year-olds made the summit – the front-page piece resonated with Singaporeans far and wide. It also won him a newsroom award – barely a year after he had started working full-time at Berita Harian in June 2024.
“I did not expect the story to be spread so widely on social media that even Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong took notice,” he says. “It is definitely among the stories I am proudest of.”
For Firdaus, the experience crystallised something he had been learning throughout his early career: In journalism, relationships matter. One story can unlock another if you take the time to listen and stay connected.
Firdaus’ path to journalism began in 2022 when his father sent him a screenshot of the SPH Media Journalism Scholarship.
At the time, Firdaus was in his second year studying political science and government at the National University of Singapore, having earlier completed a diploma in communications and media management at Temasek Polytechnic. His father had spotted the scholarship posting on Facebook and thought it aligned with his son’s interests.
The scholarship application process included a three-month internship at Berita Harian. Firdaus wanted to be sure journalism was the right path for him. Within days of stepping into the newsroom, he had his answer.
His first major assignment: the Malaysian chicken export ban that was making headlines across Singapore. He was sent to Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre to interview wet market vendors about how the policy was affecting their businesses.
Standing in that market, listening to chicken sellers share their frustrations and worries, something clicked. “That story stayed with me because of the scale of its impact, and how I was involved – serving as a bridge between our readers and those who were directly affected by the ban,” he says.
He realised journalism was not just about writing but also about telling the human stories behind the headlines. “For me, it is a rewarding experience to be able to learn and hear about the motivations of people I would not have normally met otherwise, and going to places I would never have gone if I were not a journalist,” he reflects.
The three-month internship convinced him. Later that year, he was awarded the scholarship.
Since joining Berita Harian full-time, Firdaus has learnt that empathy is central to meaningful storytelling. He saw this clearly when interviewing Emyr and Prajesh for the Mount Kinabalu story. They were reliving a tragedy, opening old wounds. Rather than rushing through his questions, he let them set the pace and listened.
“It is important to form connections with the people we interview and find common ground,” shares the SPH Media scholar. “Perhaps they might become more at ease and willing to share their stories with us too. That connection is how we earn trust – and trust is how we get to the truth.”
Looking ahead, Firdaus is focused on honing his craft. He wants to master the skill of distilling complex policy matters and community concerns into clear, concise writing that helps people understand their world.
“Clarity and structure make the difference. The aim is to simplify it for the reader,” he shares.
His scholarship has given him not just a job but a purpose. Most importantly, it has taught him that journalism is fundamentally about people – their struggles, their triumphs and their unfinished journeys.
For those considering becoming a journalist, he invites them to take the leap.
“The SPH Media scholarship gives you that window to gain exposure on what it’s like in the newsroom and opportunities you wouldn’t get otherwise,” he says.
“It was a challenge for me initially, especially acclimatising to a newsroom environment. But go for it – who knows what opportunities hold for you unless you try it yourself.”
