The Star (Malaysia)

The daily newspaper was first published on 9 September 1971 as a regional newspaper based in Penang.{{Cite book|url=https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=LCCN&searchArg=sn%2089049455&searchType=1&permalink=y|title=U.S. Library of Congress – Item Information (Full Record)|website=catalog.loc.gov|year=1971|publisher=Star Publications|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312032403/https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=LCCN&searchArg=sn%2089049455&searchType=1&permalink=y|archive-date=12 March 2018|url-status=live|access-date=11 March 2018}} The STAR went into national circulation on 3 January 1976 when it set up its new office in Kuala Lumpur. In 1978, the newspaper headquarters were relocated to Kuala Lumpur. The Star continues to expand its wings over the years. In 1981, it moved its headquarters from Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya{{Cite book |last=Ooi |first=Keat Gin |author-link=Keat Gin Ooi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YVViEJmN99kC&q=the+star+malaysia&pg=PA310 |title=The A to Z of Malaysia |date=7 June 2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9781461671992 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429233223/https://books.google.com/books?id=YVViEJmN99kC&pg=PA310&dq=the+star+malaysia&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwil97KKy-TZAhUI3mMKHYWLDzcQ6AEITzAG#v=onepage&q=the%20star%20malaysia&f=false |archive-date=29 April 2018 |url-status=live}} which is also its current premise to accommodate a growing number of staff and technology devices.

In 1987, The Star was one of the newspapers whose publication licences were withdrawn in Operation Lalang.{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/10/28/Former-Ops-Lalang-detainees-happy-that-ISA-has-been-repealed/ |title=Former Ops Lalang detainees happy that ISA has been repealed |author=Eileen Ng |work=The Star |date=28 October 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114116/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/10/28/Former-Ops-Lalang-detainees-happy-that-ISA-has-been-repealed/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 }} It resumed publication five months later in March 1988, but after its return, The Star lost its previous 'liberal flavour'.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=weHHJWARhncC&pg=PA120 |title=Malaysia: Mahathirism, Hegemony and the New Opposition|author= John Hilley |page=120 |publisher=Zed Books |year= 2001 |isbn=978-1856499187 }}

It was the first Malaysian paper to offer an online edition.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hEdADwAAQBAJ&q=the+star+malaysia+paper&pg=PA288|title=Historical Dictionary of Malaysia|last=Gin|first=Ooi Keat|date=18 December 2017|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781538108857|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429233223/https://books.google.com/books?id=hEdADwAAQBAJ&pg=PA288&dq=the+star+malaysia+paper&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiis9a6zOTZAhVH9WMKHb5JALcQ6AEILzAB#v=onepage&q=the%20star%20malaysia%20paper&f=false|archive-date=29 April 2018}}

The Star's dominant position as Malaysia's leading English-language newspaper has, for decades, been of significant benefit to its major shareholder, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) political party (which was a junior member of the Barisan Nasional coalition that ruled from independence until 2018). 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 of Nanyang Siang Pau, a total of MYR100 million was still paid out to the MCA between 2001 and 2007.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cash-cow-huaren|title=A cash cow for Huaren|date=23 March 2009|work=The Edge Markets|access-date=3 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015814/http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cash-cow-huaren|archive-date=7 November 2017}}

File:cmglee_Penang_The_Star_Northern_Hub.jpgThe Star (daily) and Sunday Star are published in five editions. Two editions cover the northern peninsular states of Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and northern Perak, while another two editions cover the rest of the country. As of March 2010, the newspaper has a separate Sarawak edition priced at RM1.20.

There are two main printing plants that publish four editions of The Star on a daily basis. The northern editions are printed at the Star Northern Hub in Bayan Lepas, Penang, while the other two editions are printed at the Star Media Hub in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, Selangor.

The Star weekday 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.{{cite news |title=Living it up |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Features/2013/10/20/Living-it-up.aspx/ |work=The Star Online |date=20 October 2013 |access-date=26 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201213703/http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Features/2013/10/20/Living-it-up.aspx/ |archive-date=1 February 2014 }}
• 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 BizWeek is 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
• F1F4 is a fortnightly pull-out published on alternate Mondays. It contains information about Mathematics and Science syllabus for Form One and Form Four.
• Stuff@school is a weekly pullout distributed every Monday to schools that subscribe to The Star. It features newsy articles, interviews, book reviews and short stories dedicated to teens.
• Star Metro is a pull-out featuring news and events from all of Malaysia and occasionally, abroad. Star Metro also features the classifieds.
• CarSifu is a pullout distributed every twice a month on alternating Thursdays that offers updates on the automobile scene.{{cite web|url=http://www.carsifu.my/about-us|title=About Carsifu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403014020/http://www.carsifu.my/about-us|archive-date=3 April 2017}}

• R.AGE is 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{{cite web |url=http://rage.my/ |title=R.AGE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711140948/http://rage.my/ |archive-date=11 July 2015 }} was nominated for a Peabody Award in 2018.{{cite web |title=Student/Trafficked |url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/student-trafficked/ |website=The Peabody Awards |publisher= University of Georgia |access-date=11 December 2023}} They have also won the Kajai Award, Malaysia's most coveted journalism award for two consecutive years.{{cite news |title=R.AGE wins prestigious Kajai Award |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/14/rage-wins-prestigious-kajai-award-team-bags-mpi-prize-again-this-time-with-its-probe-into-student-tr/ |newspaper=The Star |date=Jul 14, 2018 |page=8}}

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 column Looking Back which 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 often backronymed by some readers as Suara Tunku Abdul Rahman ({{langx|en|the Voice of Tunku Abdul Rahman}}).{{cite news|author1=Wong Chun Wai|title=Remembering Tunku|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/08/31/remembering-tunku/|access-date=14 February 2017|work=The Star|date=31 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214201956/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/08/31/remembering-tunku/|archive-date=14 February 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Lim|first1=Louisa|title=Tunku - A gift from heaven|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/travel/malaysia/2010/12/18/tunku-a-gift-from-heaven/|access-date=14 February 2017|work=The Star|date=18 December 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214201953/http://www.thestar.com.my/travel/malaysia/2010/12/18/tunku-a-gift-from-heaven/|archive-date=14 February 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Barrock|first1=Jose|title=The Star, the early days|url=http://www.kinibiz.com/story/issues/29533/the-star-the-early-days.html|website=KiniBiz|access-date=14 February 2017|date=18 June 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214093242/http://www.kinibiz.com/story/issues/29533/the-star-the-early-days.html|archive-date=14 February 2017}}

Other notable columnists for The Star include Marina Mahathir, a socio-political activist and writer, Martin Khor (since 1978),{{cite web | url=http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/30/business/5512568&sec=business | title=Up close & personal with Martin Khor | publisher=Star Publications | date=30 January 2010 | access-date=26 April 2012 | author=JIN, SOO EWE | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716203219/http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F1%2F30%2Fbusiness%2F5512568&sec=business | archive-date=16 July 2012 | df=dmy-all }} former head of the Third World Network, and law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi.{{cite web|url=http://thestar.com.my/columnists/|title=The Star Columnists|access-date=2 April 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208173744/http://thestar.com.my/columnists/|archive-date=8 February 2010}}

Popular columnists who also worked at The Star included Wong Chun Wai, June Wong, Joceline Tan, Philip Golingai, Dorairaj Nadason and Martin Vengadesan.

The Star is a party-owned paper, associated with the former government of Malaysia. Since 1977, The Star has been effectively controlled by the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component party in the Barisan Nasional alliance,{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/governmentsociet00crou|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/governmentsociet00crou/page/86 86]|quote=malaysia star controlled by government.|title=Government and Society in Malaysia|last=Crouch|first=Harold A.|date=1996|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=0801432189|language=en}} though it is part of the publicly listed Star Media Group (MYX: [http://www.bursamalaysia.com/market/listed-companies/list-of-companies/plc-profile.html?stock_code=6084 6084]). The largest stake, at 42.46%, is held by the MCA; the three next-largest shareholders are Amanah Saham Bumiputera, a unit trust scheme exclusive to Bumiputera (15.44%), the Malaysian superannuation scheme, the Employees Provident Fund (5.98%) and Tabung Haji, the government-run hajj savings and investment fund (5.42%).{{cite web |url=http://www.midf.com.my/images/Downloads/Research/Equity/Star/Star-Streamlining-its-business-operations-MIDF-130916.pdf |title=Star Media Group Berhad |access-date=17 November 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003405/http://www.midf.com.my/images/Downloads/Research/Equity/Star/Star-Streamlining-its-business-operations-MIDF-130916.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2017 }} In April 2023, The Edge Communications Sdn. Bhd. and its owner Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong have bought a stake in The Star, with Tong owning a direct interest of 0.25% stake and a 5.17% indirect interest through The Edge Communications.{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Chan Wai |date=2023-04-25 |title=Report: The Edge, owner buy 5.42pc stake in Star Media Group |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2023/04/25/report-the-edge-owner-buy-542pc-stake-in-star-media-group/66394 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Malay Mail |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tay |first=Chester |date=2023-04-25 |title=The Edge owner buys 5.42% stake in Star Media |url=http://www.theedgemarkets.com/node/664539 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=The Edge Markets}}

A 2020 Reuters Institute poll found that 56% of Malaysian respondents trusted reporting from The Star. The percentage was tied with New Straits Times as the third highest out of the 14 media outlets surveyed.{{Cite book|url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2020-06/DNR_2020_FINAL.pdf|title=Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2020|publisher=Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism|location=University of Oxford|pages=99}}

{{portal|Journalism|Malaysia}}

• List of newspapers in Malaysia

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{{Newspapers of Malaysia}}

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