KUCHING, March 8 – The Star and The Sin Chew, respectively the country’s leading English and Chinese language newspapers today launch their own e-papers programme for Sarawak. Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem officiated at the ceremony held at his office here.
Media Chinese International Limited (MCIL) Group executive chairman Tan Sri Sir Tiong Hew King said his group and the Star Media Group had decided to cooperate in coming up with their e-papers to help the state’s young generation master both the English and Chinese languages.
“We also want to cultivate a positive reading habit via reliable, creditable and trustworthy sources, namely the e-papers. Malaysia is a unique country with a huge number of bilingual peeople among its population but this is rapidly fading away and the ability to master both languages has deteriorated,” he said in his opening remarks.
Tiong said Sin Chew e-paper comes with both the morning edition at 6 am and the evening one at 6.30 pm daily. He said it currently had 81,000 subscribers since its launching two years ago. Meanwhile The Star Media Group Berhad chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow praised Adenan for his decision to make English as the state’s second language.
“Your move is one of great importance as the influential wave of globalisation and communication technology calls for the mastery of the English language. Many people in the peninsula were ‘truly inspired by the policies and values which Adenan upholds’,” he said.
“Your call for equality, integrity, racial and religious harmony is commendable and resonates deeply with The Star Media Group in its moderation campaign against extremism. The group e-paper had now more than 100,000 subscribers and was still growing,” he said.
