Full statement in English:
PRESS STATEMENT BY TWO FORMER EDITORS OF UTUSAN MALAYSIA, TAN SRI ZAINUDDIN MAIDIN AND TAN SRI JOHAN JAAFFAR
5th June 2018
Utusan Malaysia, Please Wake Up to New Realities!
We are appalled by the fact that the newspaper we once led, Utusan Malaysia, is entrapped in its own cocoon replete with prejudices. The newspaper manifests its racist stand by playing racial sentiments, which is detrimental to a multiracial country like ours. That stand has created unhappiness among the people, especially among the Malays, in the 14th General Election (GE14).
In fact, Utusan Malaysia has been blamed as one of the factors that contributed to the dismal performance by UMNO/BN in that general election.
Unfortunately to this day, the editors of Utusan Malaysia have failed to accept the resounding mandate given by the people to Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the government led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In the latest issue surrounding the appointment of a new Attorney General (AG), we find it totally unacceptable that Utusan Malaysia is playing with fire by stoking fear and discord, especially among the Malays and Muslims, regarding the appointment of a non-Malay/non-Muslim to the post.
Utusan Malaysia chooses to portray a scenario in which the interests of Islam and the Malays will be severely compromised with the appointment of Mr Tommy Thomas.
The principle of the appointment should be “integrity above all else”.
We are pleased that a crisis was averted when DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agung assented to the appointment of Mr Tommy Thomas.
For the record, as a newspaper, Utusan Malaysia had not been racist. It is true that since the foundation of the company that published Utusan Melayu (in jawi script) in 1939, it has become the suara keramat (literally, sacred voice) of the Malays. This foundation was laid by, among others, the late Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail and continued by Tan Sri Melan Abdullah.
History has proven that Utusan Malaysia (the Romanised version), while defending Malay rights and interests, did not cast hatred and discord towards others. The fact that the late Yusof Ishak, one of the founders of the company, became the first President of Singapore and accepted by all races was a testament to the position of the newspaper he once was part of.
We are also aware of UMNO’s stake in the company since it took over the newspaper in 1961. But the editors had adapted well with the political demands when UMNO wrestled control from the socialist-nationalist elements that supported the notion of “Melayu Raya” at that time. The editors chose to discard ideology and instead concentrated on business and the well-being of the newspaper.
UMNO had once shown a high level of tolerance and upheld the principle of unity among the races. Since the time of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman until quite recently, UMNO had not shown such desperation to win the hearts and minds of the Malays. UMNO’s dramatic change came when Malay support was severely affected and Utusan Malaysia now reflects that desperation.
We would like to remind its editors to take note of the shifting dynamics in society as well as the changing political landscape. The earth is moving under their feet but perhaps they are not realising it. It is business as usual for them. Despite the financial predicament they are facing now, Utusan Malaysia has not worked towards improving circulation or bringing in advertising revenue.
While taking advantage of the new-found freedom of the press, Utusan Malaysia must not be allowed to be used by certain quarters with nefarious agenda to undermine the government of the day.
We implore upon the editors of Utusan Malaysia to come out of their cocoons. We are now at the dawn of a new era. We are witnessing a New Malaysia. To deny that is a fatal mistake for them.
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin (Chief Editor from 1981 to 1992)
Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar (Chief Editor from 1992 to 1998).
PRESS STATEMENT BY TWO FORMER EDITORS OF UTUSAN MALAYSIA, TAN SRI ZAINUDDIN MAIDIN AND TAN SRI JOHAN JAAFFAR
5th June 2018
Utusan Malaysia, Please Wake Up to New Realities!
We are appalled by the fact that the newspaper we once led, Utusan Malaysia, is entrapped in its own cocoon replete with prejudices. The newspaper manifests its racist stand by playing racial sentiments, which is detrimental to a multiracial country like ours. That stand has created unhappiness among the people, especially among the Malays, in the 14th General Election (GE14).
In fact, Utusan Malaysia has been blamed as one of the factors that contributed to the dismal performance by UMNO/BN in that general election.
Unfortunately to this day, the editors of Utusan Malaysia have failed to accept the resounding mandate given by the people to Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the government led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In the latest issue surrounding the appointment of a new Attorney General (AG), we find it totally unacceptable that Utusan Malaysia is playing with fire by stoking fear and discord, especially among the Malays and Muslims, regarding the appointment of a non-Malay/non-Muslim to the post.
Utusan Malaysia chooses to portray a scenario in which the interests of Islam and the Malays will be severely compromised with the appointment of Mr Tommy Thomas.
The principle of the appointment should be “integrity above all else”.
We are pleased that a crisis was averted when DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agung assented to the appointment of Mr Tommy Thomas.
For the record, as a newspaper, Utusan Malaysia had not been racist. It is true that since the foundation of the company that published Utusan Melayu (in jawi script) in 1939, it has become the suara keramat (literally, sacred voice) of the Malays. This foundation was laid by, among others, the late Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail and continued by Tan Sri Melan Abdullah.
History has proven that Utusan Malaysia (the Romanised version), while defending Malay rights and interests, did not cast hatred and discord towards others. The fact that the late Yusof Ishak, one of the founders of the company, became the first President of Singapore and accepted by all races was a testament to the position of the newspaper he once was part of.
We are also aware of UMNO’s stake in the company since it took over the newspaper in 1961. But the editors had adapted well with the political demands when UMNO wrestled control from the socialist-nationalist elements that supported the notion of “Melayu Raya” at that time. The editors chose to discard ideology and instead concentrated on business and the well-being of the newspaper.
UMNO had once shown a high level of tolerance and upheld the principle of unity among the races. Since the time of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman until quite recently, UMNO had not shown such desperation to win the hearts and minds of the Malays. UMNO’s dramatic change came when Malay support was severely affected and Utusan Malaysia now reflects that desperation.
We would like to remind its editors to take note of the shifting dynamics in society as well as the changing political landscape. The earth is moving under their feet but perhaps they are not realising it. It is business as usual for them. Despite the financial predicament they are facing now, Utusan Malaysia has not worked towards improving circulation or bringing in advertising revenue.
While taking advantage of the new-found freedom of the press, Utusan Malaysia must not be allowed to be used by certain quarters with nefarious agenda to undermine the government of the day.
We implore upon the editors of Utusan Malaysia to come out of their cocoons. We are now at the dawn of a new era. We are witnessing a New Malaysia. To deny that is a fatal mistake for them.
Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin (Chief Editor from 1981 to 1992)
Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar (Chief Editor from 1992 to 1998).
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