New Straits Times

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Not to be confused with The Straits Times, the Singaporean newspaper.



Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Tabloid

Owner	Media Prima
Publisher	New Straits Times Press
Editor	Hishamuddin Aun
Founded	July 15, 1845 (as The Straits Time 1965 (as the New Straits Times)
Political allegiance	Right of centre, pro-government
Language	English
Price	RM1.20
Headquarters	Balai Berita 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Circulation	200,000

Website: nst.com.my

The New Straits Times is a Malaysian English-language newspaper. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper, having been founded as The Straits Times in 1845, and was reestablished as the "New Straits Times" in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English language newspaper. However, following the heels of British newspapers The Times and The Independent, a tabloid version first rolled off the presses on 1 September 2004 and since 18 April 2005, the newspaper is published only in tabloid size, ending a 160-year-old tradition of broadsheet publication. The New Straits Times currently retails at RM1.20 (~36 USD cents).

The New Straits Times is printed by the New Straits Times Press, which also produces the English language afternoon newspaper, The Malay Mail, as well as assorted Malay language newspapers, most notably the Berita Harian. The New Straits Times is part of Media Prima group of companies.

The current Group Editor of the New Straits Times is Syed Nadzri Syed Harun, while Kamrul Idris Zulkifli is acting Deputy Group Editor. Executive Editors, as of January 1, 2007, include KP Waran, Lim Thow Boon, Rajan Moses and P'ng Hong Kwang.

1 Origins
2 Political control and controversy
3 Incorporated sections
- 3.1 Business Times
- 3.2 Property Times
4 Notes and references
5 External links

[edit] Origins

The paper was originally founded as The Straits Times and covered all of what was then British Malaya, and Singapore, where it was based. This continued when Singapore became part of Malaysia in 1963, but upon its departure from the Federation in 1965, a separate paper published and based in Malaysia, the New Straits Times, was established, whilst The Straits Times has continued publication in Singapore. Owing to political sensitivities, newspapers from one country cannot be sold in the other, hence the Straits Times is not sold in Malaysia, and the New Straits Times is not sold in Singapore.

[edit] Political control and controversy

The New Straits Times has been accused of serving as a propaganda tool for the government and its proxy owner, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). One critic has claimed that the newspaper "is now nothing more than an UMNO Newsletter." ^[1] Though publicly listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, the ruling Malaysian political party UMNO holds a golden vote and decides all policies, and the newspaper has a tradition of appointing editors sympathetic to the government of the day.^{[citation needed]} Its last editor, Abdullah Ahmad (not to be confused with the prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) was sacked shortly after the retirement of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The public reason given was that he had written an article which offended Saudi authorities (Saudi Arabia is one of Malaysia's close allies), but it has been claimed that he was felt to be biased towards Mahathir and against Najib (currently Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister), although a few months before Mahathir resigned he attempted to change loyalties in an abrupt about-face to suit the new political climate.^{[citation needed]}

Rehman Rashid has been reinstated as associate Editor, having been fired from the paper in May 2003 for refusing to ghostwrite for the aforementioned Abdullah Ahmad. The former Group Editor in Chief of the NST was Datuk Kalimullah Hassan, who insisted that his would be the last appointment to the position to be made directly by politicians. Despite the common perception that he is pro-Government, Kalimullah was a popular editor as he took a very hands-on approach to his job, even writing some front page articles. However, he is also accused of being overly sycophantic to his political masters and intolerant of those who do not share his views. He continues to participate in the paper's workings in an advisory capacity. Kalimullah appointed his successor, Datuk Hishamuddin Aun, in late 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Following accusations that he plagiarised Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom on October 2006,^[2]^[3] Brendan Pereira resigned as Group Editor in December 31, 2006, succeeded by Syed Nadzri Syed Harun. The newspaper however, asserted that his resignation had been agreed upon a fortnight before the column in which the alleged plagiarism had occurred. To this end, the newspaper demanded a retraction of the report made in on BBC's website but a compromised was reached with the BBC and the report is now footnoted with a clarification that "it was not intended to convey the meaning Mr Brenden Pereira was leaving the New Straits Times Group because he was guilty of plagiarism".

Though plagiarism is rife in the Malaysian mainstream media, Brendan Pereira was the only high-profile journalist brought to book. There is a study underway to detail all works of local plagiarism and ghostwritten works dating back to 1980. It will be published as a thesis in a major university soon.

[edit] Incorporated sections

[edit] Business Times

The paper has for some years incorporated the Business Times, expanding its business section and increasing its appeal among businessmen. http://www.btimes.com.my

[edit] Property Times

First published in May 1995, the Property Times is a pull-out section in the New Straits Times, every Saturday. It focuses on introducing the property market and home decoration tips. http://properties.emedia.com.my