Sarawak Tribune
Encyclopedia
The New Sarawak Tribune is an English-language
Malaysian newspaper
published in Kuching
, Sibu
and Bintulu
, in Sarawak
. Established in 1945, publication of the paper was indefinitely suspended in 2006 following controversy pertaining to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
, but it reappeared in 2010.
Sarawak.
Its sister paper was the state Malay-language
daily, Utusan Sarawak. Formerly, its other sister paper was the state Mandarin
daily, Chinese Daily News, now known as United Daily.
It was last owned by Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd.
, the daily reprinted a collection of the cartoons on page 17 of the February 4, 2006 edition to illustrate a story on the topic titled "Cartoon No Big Impact Here". The publication drew flak from the Malaysian government
, which consisted predominantly of Muslim politicians. As a result, Lester Melanyi, an editor of the newspaper, resigned from his post for allowing the reprinting of the cartoon.
Company advisor Senator Datuk Idris Buang announced that the daily would choose to suspend itself. The paper was officially suspended on February 9, 2006, while a formal letter was delivered to Idris at the daily's main office. The group editor, Toman Mamora, resigned soon after. The daily's indefinite suspension has been generally described as a loss.
The Eastern Times is owned by Total Progressive Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of a real-estate developing corporation and government-linked company, Naim Cendera Holdings . The company was renamed Eastern Times News Sdn Bhd in May 2006.
Datuk Hamed Sepawi said during its shutdown, the management "took time to reflect and reinvigorate ourselves".
The prefix “The New” signifies a fresh beginning and replaces Eastern Times (like it did the old Tribune), which had its purpose in life, born as it were from a blot in the paper’s history. There’s no running away from the fact that the old Tribune was suspended in 2006 as a result of an error of judgment on our part.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Malaysian newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published in Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, Sibu
Sibu, Sarawak
Sibu is an inland town, and the capital of Sibu District in Sibu Division, Sarawak, east Malaysia. It is located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan Rivers, some 60 kilometres from the ocean and approximately east-north-east of the state capital Kuching...
and Bintulu
Bintulu
Bintulu is a coastal town, and the capital of Bintulu District in the Bintulu Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is about 650 kilometers from Kuching and about 215 kilometers from either Sibu or Miri....
, in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. Established in 1945, publication of the paper was indefinitely suspended in 2006 following controversy pertaining to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
, but it reappeared in 2010.
Overview and history
Originally formed by teachers in 1945, the Sarawak Tribune was the second English language daily in Sarawak, and was, prior to its suspension, the state's oldest and largest operating state daily, with over 400 employees throughout the state and 70 editorial staff in Kuching. The daily was regarded as a legacy of British colonialBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
Sarawak.
Its sister paper was the state Malay-language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
daily, Utusan Sarawak. Formerly, its other sister paper was the state Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
daily, Chinese Daily News, now known as United Daily.
It was last owned by Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd.
2006 Muhammad cartoons controversy
During the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversyJyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
, the daily reprinted a collection of the cartoons on page 17 of the February 4, 2006 edition to illustrate a story on the topic titled "Cartoon No Big Impact Here". The publication drew flak from the Malaysian government
Politics of Malaysia
The politics of Malaysia takes place in the framework of a federal constitutional monarchy, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is head of state and the Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the federal government and the 13 state governments. ...
, which consisted predominantly of Muslim politicians. As a result, Lester Melanyi, an editor of the newspaper, resigned from his post for allowing the reprinting of the cartoon.
Company advisor Senator Datuk Idris Buang announced that the daily would choose to suspend itself. The paper was officially suspended on February 9, 2006, while a formal letter was delivered to Idris at the daily's main office. The group editor, Toman Mamora, resigned soon after. The daily's indefinite suspension has been generally described as a loss.
Successor
A new tabloid, the Eastern Times, is said to take over Sarawak Tribunes place. Its printing license was approved on March 1, and began publication on March 26, 2006.The Eastern Times is owned by Total Progressive Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of a real-estate developing corporation and government-linked company, Naim Cendera Holdings . The company was renamed Eastern Times News Sdn Bhd in May 2006.
The New Sarawak Tribune
On 19 May 2010, New Sarawak Tribune returned to the newsstand after a four-year hiatus. Tribune Press Sdn Bhd chairmanDatuk Hamed Sepawi said during its shutdown, the management "took time to reflect and reinvigorate ourselves".
The prefix “The New” signifies a fresh beginning and replaces Eastern Times (like it did the old Tribune), which had its purpose in life, born as it were from a blot in the paper’s history. There’s no running away from the fact that the old Tribune was suspended in 2006 as a result of an error of judgment on our part.