Sin Chew Daily Newspaper Malaysia (星洲日報) （formerly known as Sin Chew Jit Poh）, is a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Malaysia. According to report from the Audit Bureau of Circulation for the period ending 30 June 2009, Sin Chew Daily has an average daily circulation of some 400,000 copies. It is only on Sundays that the circulation of the Malay language (national language of Malaysia) papers exceeds that of Sin Chew Daily. [5]
Sin Chew Daily is a member of the Asia News Network.
Sin Chew Daily is circulated throughout Malaysia and neighbouring countries, in Southern Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia and northern Kalimantan. It is also published and printed in Indonesia and Cambodia under different mastheads.
Presently, Sin Chew Daily has 53 news bureaus and 6 printing plants in Peninsular and East Malaysia.
Sin Chew Daily is owned by Sin Chew Media Corporation Berhad, a subsidiary of Media Chinese International Limited.
Sin Chew Daily is founded on January 15, 1929 by Aw Boon Par (胡文豹) and Aw Boon Haw (胡文虎), founder of the Tiger Balm (虎標萬金油) in Singapore as part of the Star Almagated Newspaper formed by these two philanthropists.
Even after the secession of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, Sin Chew Daily still operated with its headquarter in Singapore under the management of successors of Aw Brothers.
In the early 70s, to expedite the printing process, Sin Chew daily decided to build a new plant located at its present head office premises in Petaling Jaya. With the setting up of this new plant, other departments such as the news desk, editorial, production and circulation were started. The Petaling Jaya operation became independent from the head office in Singapore.
Following the directives from the government on restraining foreigners from controlling the press, the Aw family transferred their ownership of Sin Chew Daily to Lim Kheng Kim in 1982.
In 1987, Sin Chew Daily sank into deep financial trouble. A receiver was appointed over the company. On 27 October 1987, the publication license of Sin Chew Daily was suspended under Operasi Lalang, one of the most drastic clampdowns on civil dissent launched by the government. Tiong Hiew King, an entrepreneur from Sarawak was moved by the dedication of management team led by CC Liew (present Managing Director) acquired Sin Chew Daily.After more than 5 months, Sin Chew Daily resumed publication on 8 April 1988.
In the early 1990s, Sin Chew Daily emerged as the best selling Chinese newspaper, beating Nanyang Siang Pau, the leading Chinese newspaper then.
Steven Gan’s independent news site Malaysiakini began with a 20 November 1997 story criticizing the practices of Sin Chew Jit Poh. The newspaper had doctored a photograph of Malaysia’s ruling party to remove Anwar Ibrahim, who had recently been imprisoned for corruption. According to BBC News, the Malaysiakini report led to “worldwide infamy” for Sin Chew Jit Poh, and the newspaper later issued a public apology.
