Utusan Malaysia

Infobox Newspaper
name = Utusan Malaysia


caption =
type = Daily newspaper
format = Broadsheet
foundation = May 29, 1939
ceased publication =
price =
owners = Utusan Group
publisher = Utusan Group
editor =
language = Malay
political = Pro-UMNO, conservative rightist
circulation = 256,247
"*Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, 2004"
headquarters = 46M, "Jalan Lima" off "Jalan Chan Sow Lin", 55200 Kuala Lumpur, MYS (as of 2005).
ISSN =
website = [http://www.utusan.com.my/ Utusan Online]

"Utusan Malaysia" (literally translated from Malay to English as the "Malaysian Courier") (formerly known as "Utusan Melayu") is a Malay language newspaper in Malaysia. First published in Jawi, the newspaper is now published in romanised letters, and is still the number one selling Malay-language daily in Malaysia.

History

"Utusan Malaysia" started publication from Singapore as "Utusan Melayu" on May 29, 1939, catering to the Jawi-literate in then British Malaya. It became an influential medium for the populace to voice their opinions towards the colonial government in pre-independence Malaya.

The broadsheet was the first of four newspapers, published by the Utusan Group (Malay: "Kumpulan Utusan"), established in 1938 in Singapore as "Utusan Melayu Press Limited". In February 1958, five months after Malaya gained Independence from the British government, "Utusan Melayu" moved its headquarters and operations to Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital.

In 1997, the Group made its entry into the world of multimedia with the launch of "Utusan Malaysia On-Line", Malaysia's first Online Newspaper in full text and visuals. The service provided, in collaboration with Telekom Malaysia, enables pay-subscribers to read exact replicas of the Group's newspapers, including "Utusan Malaysia". On July 2, 2001, "Utusan Education Portal" ("Portal Pendidikan Utusan") was launched. The free service has received recognition from MIMOS (the "Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems") as one of the top five education websites in Malaysia in 2001. "Utusan" had also won the "IFRA Publish Asia 2003 Award" for the "Best in Print" category on March 20, 2002. It was the first award to be won by the newspaper at the international level.

Format

Distinctive for its blue masthead as its logo and trademark, "Utusan Malaysia" has over 32 pages of news and current affairs, with regular supplements, focusing on such diverse topics as entertainment, fashion, music, health, technology, and politics (pro-UMNO).

Circulation

A poll survey conducted on Malaysian publications by AC Nielsen in early 2005 showed that the Utusan Group's two key newspapers, "Utusan Malaysia", as well as "Mingguan Malaysia", have consistently achieved and maintained the highest circulations and readerships in Malaysia. AC Nielsen first quarter of 2005 report indicates "Utusan Malaysia" has a readership 1,497,000, while the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) put "Utusan"'s circulation in 2004 at 256,247.

Criticism

Utusan Malaysia's credibility as a newspaper has come under fire from many circles for its blatant practice of double standards in its reporting, especially with regard to politically-related news. [http://klpos.com/klpos/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1787&Itemid=49 klpos.com] [http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utusan_Malaysia "Utusan Malaysia" at the Malay Wikipedia] Statements by Chief Ministers in Opposition-held States have been taken out of context, manipulated, or otherwise downright fabricateda nd also regarded as BN voice. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYUlAIvjs7o Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of Penang clarifies matters on youtube.com]

Of late, Utusan has also stoked racist sentiments with provocative headlines championing the New Economic Policy and Ketuanan Melayu. [http://utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0413&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=muka%5Fhadapan&pg=mh_01.htm&arc=hive "Crown Prince of Kelantan: "Malay supremacy challenged" at Utusan.com.my] [http://utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0319&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=forum&pg=fo_04.htm&arc=hive http://utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=2008&dt=0319&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=forum&pg=fo_04.htm&arc=hive] In view of Utusan's extreme racist rhetoric, the Opposition-led Perak state government has staged a boycott against the newspaper, with other Opposition states expected to follow suit.

Additionally, Utusan has also been criticized for publishing very little international news; the "Foreign News" section typically consists of only two to three pages out of 50 pages in total.

References

* [http://www.indiatraveltimes.com/malaysia/newspapers_malaysia.html India Travel Times: "Utusan Malaysia" leads]
* [http://www.bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com/utusan-malaysia.html bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com: Utusan Malaysia]
* [http://www.bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com/utusan_melayu.html bahasa-malaysia-simple-fun.com: Utusan Melayu]

External links

* [http://www.utusangroup.com.my/index.html Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad] , Utusan Group's official website.
* [http://www.utusan.com.my/ Official "Utusan Malaysia" website] ms icon