Utusan Malaysia (Malaysian Courier) is probably Malaysia’s most controversial newspaper.
Starting out in 1939 , it has mainly represented the views of Malay ‘nationalist‘.
However, Utusan’s nationalist have changed dramatically. Until 1961, Utusan Malaysia (then called Utusan Melayu) was considered an independent and trustworthy newspaper representing the interest of Malays.
However, in 1961, Utusan Melayu was taken over by UMNO who found that their continued barrage of UMNO was exposing UMNO as an elitist organisation not serving the interest of the general Malay populace. (Read the interview with the Editor of Utusan Melayu when it was taken over by UMNO)
Today, this UMNO (United Malay National Organisation) controlled newspaper is usually the instrument through which virulent attacks on non Malays and non Muslims are done and promoting UMNO’s interest specifically.
However, since the Badawi Administration, Utusan Malaysia’s racist stance has steadily increased to dangerous precedents. Several commentators have raised concern over the direction that Utusan Malaysia has taken. (Read here and here )
Surprisingly, its racist stance has even irked senior UMNO members as it is seen as undermining UMNO’s efforts to win over non-Malays (Read here).
That Utusan Malaysia is racist is undeniable. What is worrying is the Prime Minister Najib’s deafening silence especially in the face of his 1Malaysia policy.
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I’ve read Utusan Malaysia countless of times, from my opinion, its no difference from Sin Chew or any of the Chinese newspaper in M’sia, just different viewpoint.
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Hi there Koko,
I do know that the verncular newspapers (Tamil and Mandarin) do report with a race perspective.
However, I am sure these newspapers do not promote racist views as Utusan does.
For example, Utusan had carried the following editorials, stories, that directly attack non- Malays.
For instance, since the GE of 2008, there have been articles that ask Malays to rise-up and defend themselves against the non-Malays, a story of a non-Malay MP (targeting Teresa Kok) being assasinated by an angered Malay and many more.
I am sure no vernacular newspaper goes to this extent.
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Actually there is no racism in Malaysia (which is true), but there is something called “discrete apartheid” and its far worse than racism.
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It appears that Utusan Malaysia has upped the ante on its Malay supremacy argument by directly challenging Najib’s 1Malaysia policy.
Read the analysis on the op-ed in Mingguan Malaysia (the weekend edition) which argues that Malay Muslims has “more” rights than other Malaysians.
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[…] A favourite target of UMNO chauvanists have been the DAP lead Penang state government. Deputy Prime Minister has accused the Penang state government of disrespecting Islam based on a fraudelent report by Utusan Malaysia. […]
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There is no point arguing, the whole world thinks Malaysia is extremely corrupt, Islamist, inhumane, people living on trees and etc. Malays have an identity problem in the world today and although they might feel superior in a small part of the planet but the reality is, they are inferior. Malaysia is heading towards doom, a chemical concoction gone wrong. Ringgit goes down, Credit rating goes down and all chaos breaks loose.
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