New Sarawak Tribune
Type | Sibu and Bintulu |
---|---|
Country | Sarawak |
Website | www |
The New Sarawak Tribune is an
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
2006 Muhammad cartoons controversy
During the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, the daily reprinted a collection of the cartoons on page 17 of the 4 February 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 9 February 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 have replaced the Sarawak Tribune. Its printing license was approved on 1 March, and began publication on 26 March 2006.
The Eastern Times is owned by Total Progressive Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of a real-estate developing corporation and
Further reading
- Sarawak Tribune returns to newstands
- Sarawak paper prints Prophet cartoon, editor quits
- End of the road for Sarawak Tribune?
- Sarawak needs new English daily, says top Tribune exec