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The Star(Malaysia)

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The Star
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatPrint, online
Owner(s)Malaysian Chinese Association(46%, via Huaren Holdings Sdn Bhd),Pemodalan Nasional Berhad(5%)
PublisherChan Seng Fatt
EditorEsther Ng
FoundedSeptember 9, 1971;52 years ago(1971-09-09)
Political alignmentConservative
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersJalan 16/11, 46350
Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Circulation248,413 (Daily Star)
246,652 (Sunday Star)
105,645 (Daily Star E-paper)
104,804 (Sunday Star E-paper)
*Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, Malaysia – July to December 2015[1][2]
Websitethestar.myEdit this at Wikidata

Star Media Group Berhad(doing business asThe Star;MYX:6084) is anEnglish-languagenewspaper inMalaysia.Based inPetaling Jaya,it was established in 1971 as a regional newspaper inPenang.It is the largest paid English newspaper in terms of circulation in Malaysia,[3]according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.[4]It has a daily circulation of about 250,000 (As of January 2017), far eclipsing the circulation of its next-largest paid English-language competitor, theNew Straits Times(which has a circulation of approximately 65,000).

The Staris a member of theAsia News Network.It is owned by the publicly listed Star Media Group.

History[edit]

The daily newspaper was first published on 9 September 1971 as a regional newspaper based inPenang.[5]The STARwent into national circulation on 3 January 1976 when it set up its new office inKuala Lumpur.In 1978, the newspaper headquarters were relocated to Kuala Lumpur.The Starcontinues to expand its wings over the years. In 1981, it moved its headquarters from Kuala Lumpur toPetaling Jaya[6]which is also its current premise to accommodate a growing number of staff and technology devices.

In 1987,The Starwas one of the newspapers whose publication licences were withdrawn inOperation Lalang.[7][6]It resumed publication five months later in March 1988, but after its return,The Starlost its previous 'liberal flavour'.[8]

It was the first Malaysian paper to offer an online edition.[6][9]

The Star's dominant position as Malaysia's leading English-language newspaper has, for decades, been of significant benefit to its major shareholder, theMalaysian Chinese Association(MCA) political party (which ruled from the independence of Malaya until 2018 as a junior member of theBarisan Nasionalcoalition). Between 1997 and 2007, it was estimated that the MCA's investment arm, Huaren Holdings, collected MYR270 million in dividends – almost exclusively from their 42% shareholding in the Star's parent company - with dividends peaking at MYR40 million per year between 2005 and 2007. Despite a significant portion of these dividends funding debts from their later acquisition ofNanyang Siang Pau,a total of MYR100 million was still paid out to theMCAbetween 2001 and 2007.[10]

Editions[edit]

The StarNorthern Hub in Bayan Lepas, Penang

The Star(daily) andSunday Starare published in five editions. Two editions cover the northern peninsular states ofPenang,Kedah,Perlis,Kelantanand northernPerak,while another two editions cover the rest of the country. As of March 2010, the newspaper has a separateSarawakedition priced at RM1.20.

There are two main printing plants that publish four editions ofThe Staron a daily basis. The northern editions are printed at theStarNorthern Hub inBayan Lepas,Penang, while the other two editions are printed at theStarMedia Hub inBukit Jelutong,Shah Alam,Selangor.

Features[edit]

The Starweekday paper is packaged as a 4-in-1 paper, comprising the Main Paper, StarBiz, Star2 and Star Metro. Naturally, this newspaper also contains classifieds.

The Main Paper covers the latest in both local and international news while StarBiz offers a comprehensive coverage of business developments, market trends, financial reports and updates in the stock market. Star2 features articles on lifestyle, entertainment, health, parenting, social etiquette, science, environment, fashion, food, comics and many more. The contents published on the Star Metro varies by edition, covering news and events in a particular region covered by each edition.

Weekly sections include:

  • StarBytz(every Monday; formerly known as In-Tech): focuses on computers and information technology
  • StarEducate(Sundays): features careers, school, exam tips, advice on furthering education, commentaries by renowned educationists and updates in the education industry
  • Star Fit4Life(Sundays): focuses on various aspects of well-being, from medical research to treatments, fitness trends, diet and nutrition, mental health, ageing and public health issues, alternative therapy and healing methods
  • Life Inspired(Sundays): a luxury-focused pull-out covering topics from art, architecture, travel, fashion, food and more. This section was launched in October 2013.[11]
  • Dots(Sundays): News and articles sourced from international media partners covering a varied range of topics from politics and society to people. Provides a deeper insight into thoughts, senses and outlook
  • The Star BizWeekis a weekly financial magazine published every Saturday that highlights issues, companies, personalities, developments, and stocks that are likely to make news in the week ahead
  • F1F4is a fortnightly pull-out published on alternate Mondays. It contains information about Mathematics and Science syllabus for Form One and Form Four.
  • Stuff@schoolis a weekly pullout distributed every Monday to schools that subscribe toThe Star.It features newsy articles, interviews, book reviews and short stories dedicated to teens.
  • Star Metrois a pull-out featuring news and events from all ofMalaysiaand occasionally, abroad. Star Metro also features theclassifieds.
  • CarSifuis a pullout distributed every twice a month on alternating Thursdays that offers updates on the automobile scene.[12]
  • R.AGEis the paper's youth-oriented section and pullout with its own journalist team, they now does video-based content with an investigative angle. Their work with the Predator in My Phone series led to the passing of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017. The video documentary series "Student/Trafficked" which unravels the student trafficking syndicate in Malaysia[13]was nominated for aPeabody Awardin 2018.[14]They have also won the Kajai Award, Malaysia's most coveted journalism award for two consecutive years.[15]

Columnists[edit]

Notable columnists forThe StarincludeMarina Mahathir,a socio-political activist and writer,Martin Khor(since 1978),[16]former head of the Third World Network, and law professorShad Saleem Faruqi.[17]

Popular columnists who also worked at The Star included Wong Chun Wai, June Wong, Dorairaj Nadason andMartin Vengadesan.

Tunku Abdul Rahman,the first Prime Minister and chairman of the paper's parent company from the 1977 to 1989, also contributed to the newspaper through his columnLooking Backwhich was published every Monday from 1974 to 1989. His writings in the column, which consisted of his personal accounts in the ruling party in regards to seeking Malaysia's independence, were deemed to be influential and so closely associated with the paper that its name was oftenbackronymedby some readers asSuara Tunku Abdul Rahman(English:the Voice of Tunku Abdul Rahman).[18][19][20]

Ownership[edit]

The Staris a party-owned paper, associated with the former government of Malaysia. Since 1977,The Starhas been effectively controlled by theMalaysian Chinese Association,a component party in theBarisan Nasionalalliance,[21]though it is part of the publicly listed Star Media Group (MYX:6084). The largest stake, at 42.46%, is held by the MCA; the three next-largest shareholders areAmanah Saham Bumiputera,a unit trust scheme exclusive toBumiputera(15.44%), the Malaysian superannuation scheme, theEmployees Provident Fund(5.98%) andTabung Haji,the government-runhajjsavings and investment fund (5.42%).[22]In April 2023,The Edge Communications Sdn. Bhd.and its owner Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong have bought a stake inThe Star,with Tong owning a direct interest of 0.25% stake and a 5.17% indirect interest through The Edge Communications.[23][24]

Reception[edit]

A 2020Reuters Institutepoll found that 56% of Malaysian respondents trusted reporting fromThe Star.The percentage was tied withNew Straits Timesas the third highest out of the 14 media outlets surveyed.[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Circulation Figures – Newspapers – West & East Malaysia"(PDF).Audit Bureau of Circulations Malaysia.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 18 September 2017.Retrieved11 September2017.
  2. ^"Circulation figures digital replica – newspapers"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 18 September 2017.Retrieved11 September2017.
  3. ^Weiss, Meredith L. (17 October 2014).Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Malaysia.Routledge.ISBN9781317629597.Archivedfrom the original on 29 April 2018.
  4. ^"About The Star and Sunday Star".The Star (Malaysia).Archived fromthe originalon 5 August 2011.Retrieved30 July2011.
  5. ^U.S. Library of Congress – Item Information (Full Record).Star Publications. 1971.Archivedfrom the original on 12 March 2018.Retrieved11 March2018.{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help)
  6. ^abcGin, Ooi Keat (7 June 2010).The A to Z of Malaysia.Scarecrow Press.ISBN9781461671992.Archivedfrom the original on 29 April 2018.
  7. ^Eileen Ng (28 October 2012)."Former Ops Lalang detainees happy that ISA has been repealed".The Star.Archivedfrom the original on 2 April 2015.
  8. ^John Hilley (2001).Malaysia: Mahathirism, Hegemony and the New Opposition.Zed Books. p. 120.ISBN978-1856499187.
  9. ^Gin, Ooi Keat (18 December 2017).Historical Dictionary of Malaysia.Rowman & Littlefield.ISBN9781538108857.Archivedfrom the original on 29 April 2018.
  10. ^"A cash cow for Huaren".The Edge Markets.23 March 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2017.Retrieved3 November2017.
  11. ^"Living it up".The Star Online.20 October 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2014.Retrieved26 January2014.
  12. ^"About Carsifu".Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2017.
  13. ^"R.AGE".Archivedfrom the original on 11 July 2015.
  14. ^"Student/Trafficked".The Peabody Awards.University of Georgia.Retrieved11 December2023.
  15. ^"R.AGE wins prestigious Kajai Award".The Star.14 July 2018. p. 8.
  16. ^JIN, SOO EWE (30 January 2010)."Up close & personal with Martin Khor".Star Publications.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2012.Retrieved26 April2012.
  17. ^"The Star Columnists".Archivedfrom the original on 8 February 2010.Retrieved2 April2010.
  18. ^Wong Chun Wai (31 August 2013)."Remembering Tunku".The Star.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2017.Retrieved14 February2017.
  19. ^Lim, Louisa (18 December 2010)."Tunku - A gift from heaven".The Star.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2017.Retrieved14 February2017.
  20. ^Barrock, Jose (18 June 2013)."The Star, the early days".KiniBiz.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2017.Retrieved14 February2017.
  21. ^Crouch, Harold A. (1996).Government and Society in Malaysia.Cornell University Press. p.86.ISBN0801432189.malaysia star controlled by government.
  22. ^"Star Media Group Berhad"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on 7 November 2017.Retrieved17 November2017.
  23. ^Kit, Chan Wai (25 April 2023)."Report: The Edge, owner buy 5.42pc stake in Star Media Group".Malay Mail.Retrieved25 April2023.
  24. ^Tay, Chester (25 April 2023)."The Edge owner buys 5.42% stake in Star Media".The Edge Markets.Retrieved25 April2023.
  25. ^Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020(PDF).University of Oxford:Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.p. 99.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Star_(Malaysia)&oldid=1233885107"