THE collapse of the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government was the most visible issue in the Malay language papers from 2 to 8 Feb 2009. In examining the event, the press focused on questions of treason and Malay-ness, and attempted to pinpoint causes and effects. Treason Karpal Singh (Source: karpalsingh.net) After the palace-approved Barisan Nasional (BN) […]
Utusan Malaysia
Religion, crime and politics
Translation by Zedeck SiewUSE of the word “Allah”, A Kugan’s death in custody, and political party-hopping were some of the concerns the Malay-language press was engrossed in between 28 Jan to 2 Feb 2009. “Don’t challenge Islam” The headline for Mingguan Malaysia‘s 1 Feb edition was Jangan cabar Islam, and the lead read: “Don’t challenge the sanctity of […]
KT, Palestine, sex toys and language
Translation by Zedeck SiewBETWEEN 12 and 19 Jan 2009, alongside the Kuala Terengganu by-election and the conflict in Palestine, the Malay-language press was also preoccupied with the sale of sex toys and the teaching of science and maths in the English language. Jews in the news Israel’s invasion of Gaza continued to occupy headlines throughout the week. On […]
PAS MP Mahfuz Omar wins suit against Utusan
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Dec 2008: PAS Member of Parliament (MP) for Pokok Sena Mahfuz Omar won his defamation suit against Untusan Melayu Berhad and was granted RM120,000 by the High Court here today as damages for libellous words published against him. Judicial Commissioner Mohd Yazid Mustafa, in his decision, held that the words published in […]
Teresa Kok files RM30 mil defamation suit
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Dec 2008: Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok Suh Sim today filed a RM30 million defamation suit against Malaysian Press Institute chief executive officer Datuk Chamil Wariya and Utusan Malaysia Sdn Bhd over an article published in the Malay daily on 12 Oct 2008. The writ of summons was filed at the […]
Assemblyperson wants ban on Utusan Malaysia
PENANG, 20 Nov 2008: An assemblyperson today proposed that the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia be prohibited from covering Penang state assemby meetings. R S N Rayer (DAP-Seri Delima) said the newspaper often reported untruths and had twisted a statement by Deputy Chief Minister II, Prof Dr P Ramasamy (DAP-Prai) regarding the issue of Malay domination […]
“Utusan will become very irrelevant”
By Zedeck SiewJOURNALIST Said Zahari was a seminal force in Utusan Melayu during its heyday as an independent publication. He led the paper’s 1961 strike in protest of a takeover bid by Umno, which resulted in him being banned from entering Malaysia. The ban was only lifted in the 1980s. A consummate man of letters, Said has […]
A strike for press freedom
By Zedeck SiewTHE politics of Utusan Malaysia, with its championing of Malay rights, has raised concerns of late. The influential Malay-language daily is unapologetic about pushing forward the Malay (some would say Umno) agenda, often running roughshod over the sentiments of the other races. But the Utusan Malaysia of today is very different from the Utusan Melayu […]
