Utusan Malaysia"We are biased, but we don't tell lies." Though Utusan Malaysia is used interchangeably with Utusan Melayu, that it is regarded as the romanized form of the latter, I prefer to discuss these two newpapers separately. My main reason is the pioneer spirit of Utusan Melayu no longer dwells in Utusan Malaysia. The popular Utusan was born 1 September 1967- six years after UMNO took over its Jawi-language predecessor Utusan Melayu, to cater for a change in the Malaysian education system which began to emphasize romanized Malay. I doubt another reason given that it felt challenged by other rival papers, as most major newspapers come under political control as well. Value Perhaps now you are asking:" Hey Wan, I am here to learn Bahasa Malaysia, why are you referring me to a political party propaganda tool?"
The third reason is rather personal. I LOVE to use its online archive to search for information relating to Bahasa Malaysia not found elsewhere. Many of the feature articles ( except for political news ) are very interesting. The standard Google search box is there so it's quite easy, just type in your search and select the appropriate radio button. With patience, I must say so far I am seldom disappointed. My only regret is they don't archive the dates of the articles. Influential "Tak ada orang berani mengusik," said Tan Sri A.Samad Ismail regarding the undisputable status of the Utusan in reflecting Malay nationalism during anti-colonialism days. That was years ago. Things have changed since then. One unforgettable example is Anwar Ibrahim's trial case. You might have read those explicit details by the Malaysian press. ( They still make me blush ). People were so angry about the press coverage that they attacked the press including pelting bricks and stones on a four-wheel drive belonging to Utusan and smashing two windows. Columbia Journalism Review reported that crowds also burned copies of Utusan at demonstrations. The "meliwat" story is on again, I'd boycott that. :-)
And choose the people did, from among foreign press, opposition and blogs. So...is Utusan still the superior Malay paper? Instead of quoting figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulation and the Nielsen Media Index, let me share with you another way I used to ascertain its popularity.
Media Chiefs, Power Play Prior to Anwar Ibrahim's arrest, it is believed his powerful supporters in the mainstream media were pressured to resign. The editor-in-chief of Utusan Malaysia Johan Jaafar was the first one to go. This caused a stir beyond the publishing circles.
Want to hear Dr Mahathir's version? " When [ Johan] came, there was talk that it was political pressure. Now he leaves. We all come and go sometime." Remember that cool guy Zainuddin Maidin? From a part-time reporter, he became Utusan Malaysia's Editor-in-chief in 1982. In early 2006, he was promoted from deputy to the position of the Information Minister of Malaysia. We Malaysians like to call him "Datuk Zam" and he was voted out in 2008, yippee! Dialogue
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