BANGI, Sept 18 — The Prime Minister hailed the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia today for its role in representing the interest of the Malays, but he also urged the newspaper to also voice out the rights of all Malaysians.
The Umno president singled out Utusan for being the voice of the people, especially the Malay community.
“Utusan is known for its trademark and its trademark is to voice the desire of the people, especially the Malay community,” he said in his speech during a breaking of fast function at Sri Utusan Printing Complex here.
However Datuk Seri Najib Razak warned that the media must not only report ethically but also responsibly.
“I hope that we will not only voice the rights of only the Malay community but for the other races as well. When we want to defend rights (of a community), we must also discuss about responsibility,” he said.
He also urged the media to play an important role to shape the nation into 1 Malaysia.
“Media has the responsibility to help in the journey travelled by Malaysia.
The journey which seeks common understanding, openness in thinking. The journey which will also test our struggle.
“If in this journey, we bring chaos and sentiments without looking at the bigger perspective then the journey will go through many difficulties,” he said.
The government aims to engage more with the media because “the era of government knows everything is over.”
“We will interact with the press so that the press will understand the thinking of the government and the direction the government is taking.
“The press will play its part in building a Malaysia which is more prosperous,” he said.
Utusan Malaysia has been criticised for being used to attack the opposition and ratcheting up racial tensions.
The Umno-owned newspaper was also responsible for running daily stories criticising calls to allow former communist leader Chin Peng to return to Malaysia, linking it to what the newspaper says are moves to question Malay rights.
The paper also suggested that DAP is anti-Islam and said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was willing to betray the Malays to be prime minister — both incendiary subjects in mainly Malay Muslim Malaysia.
Note: A previous edition of this story erroneously reported the Prime Minister as praising Utusan Malaysia for its ethical and unbiased reporting. We regret the error.

written by 123malaysian, September 18, 2009
it is not fun to see and hear your speech differs in content and tone whenever you speaks to a different audience.................PLease be the PM of all Malaysians and stay true to that aim............and not trying to be just the president of UMNO and leader of only UMNO members....you said that yourself to the MIC delegates..........Don't you remember...................Now, please follow your own advice.
written by Atrocious, September 18, 2009
What a farce, praising and hailing Utusan that strives to cloud the Melayu mindset back at the colonial era so UMNO can continue to play the Malay Protector role. Wake upppp !!!
written by Chew , September 18, 2009
written by straightvoice, September 18, 2009
The paper also suggested that DAP is anti-Islam and said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was willing to betray the Malays to be prime minister — both incendiary subjects in mainly Malay Muslim Malaysia."
You call this unbiased reporting when the reporting are leaning towards pro UMNO/BN? Unbiased and ethical reporting gives fair reporting without any prejudice.
So, our PM is either very ignorant of what he is talking about or he is a very bias PM for defending Utusan.
written by kz, September 18, 2009
written by Jack, September 18, 2009
written by greateagle, September 18, 2009
written by Jack, September 18, 2009
written by Voyager74, September 18, 2009
written by Alex, September 18, 2009
When the PM of Malaysia supports a RACIST, BIGOT newspaper, is there any hope left for this country?
written by bijan, September 18, 2009
1M all way, He holds Malaysians by the sway, little puppets all the way, till he gets his way!!!
written by Kanthasamy, September 18, 2009
written by ramarajan, September 18, 2009
written by John Lim, September 18, 2009
Really tak boleh tahan lagi!!
written by MrTaurus, September 18, 2009
I prefer Malaysia Today, Malaysiakini and Malaysia Insider. They are more ethical, fair and unbiased in their reporting.
Too bad, they are still many idiots out there in Malaysia who still believe in Utusan Malaysia.
written by Joe, September 18, 2009
Only one person out of 25 million Malaysians said that. That one person is the PM elected by 2500 malaysians and who cannot even groq hair on his head.
No wonder he could care less if he insults us, malaysians.
Just hope that he get choked eating dodol cap Rosmah.
written by change28, September 18, 2009
The Umno president also praised Utusan for being the voice of the people, especially the Malay community."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This removes all doubt that Najib's judgement is inherently flawed. Whatever credibility he may have had before this and whatever hopes any Malaysian has that he could change the country for the better, has been destroyed by his statements today.
He simply does not have the courage,wisdom and honesty to bring about about any change for the better!
written by anak melaka sejati, September 18, 2009
written by Tony, September 18, 2009
written by pan, September 18, 2009
written by Aries, September 18, 2009
However, the rakyat could differentiate crystals from glass, the genuine from the sham, sincerity from pretensions, goodwill from ill-will, falsehood from reality.
The age of ignorance is over. The age of stupid people is past Utusan's imagination.
Perhaps Utusan's top people think that Malaysians are idiots to believe them? Since the readers are mostly the Malays, does Utusan think so lowly of their target readers? What an insult!
It is time to tell Utusan to stop insulting our intelligence. And for Najib to hail the paper, what can we say about him? Is it just another plot and ploy? What Utusan had been up to is so much against the 1Malaysia concept that Najib is promoting. What is going on? Craps.
written by tim, September 18, 2009
written by ckeong, September 18, 2009
written by 5xmom, September 18, 2009
written by lucia, September 18, 2009
written by jin, September 18, 2009
written by JAMES LIM, September 18, 2009
With due respect to the prime minister, I suggest he refer to the below article by The UTUSAN MALASIA:-
11/09/2009_ Cara halus akhbar Inggeris main isu perkauman:-
.......
Kenapa ia tidak mengutuk dengan keras apabila orang Cina membawa babi yang dibalut dengan kain ke kawasan perumahan Melayu di Melaka tidak lama dahulu?
.......
There is no evidence that it is the CHINESE who is involved in the above carrying of a pig to a Malay area. The Star dated 13/9/09, stated that the police still has not found out who did the carrying of a pig to UMNO and to a mosque (note that The Star did not mention a Malay area (non malay Muslims also go to a mosque). If it is/are a/CHINESE, then the police should have mentioned it. Thus UTUSAN MALASIA should not simply make Baseless & Racialist statement without proof. It can make the Malays hate the CHINESE.
Reading UTUSAN MALASIA, I notice that they constantly write Racialist statements. I am sick(feel like vomiting)reading their statements.
Thus, I with most humble respect to the prime minister, ask that in line with his 1 MALAYSIA policy and to have more racial harmony ask UTUSAN MALASIA to tone down their Racialist statements.
For more racial harmony, we should think & talk as a MALAYSIAN and not as a MALAY/CHINESE/INDIAN,etc.
written by United Malaysia, September 18, 2009
written by sp-m-inister, September 18, 2009
I think the Myanmar junta and the "beloved leader" of North Korean fame will be full of praises of its state media too.
Why am i not surprised?
written by Jim Dougal, September 19, 2009
written by politikus, September 19, 2009
written by 1 Malaysia alright, September 19, 2009
And this is from a man who espoused the 1MALAYSIA concept.
This is proof to the Malaysian rakyat that what our PM says is opposite from what he practices.
God bless those dumb skulls who still believes what the gomen says!
written by Johan Abdullah, September 19, 2009
written by scarlett, September 19, 2009
written by Dreamer, September 19, 2009
written by Farid Yusman, September 19, 2009
written by Zidane, September 19, 2009
written by mac, September 19, 2009
written by scrutinizer, September 19, 2009
Your 1Malaysia F1 team costs Billions of Rinngit that will burn/ruin rakyat's pockets.
You have showed us your true self and NO more a good guy after all!
written by chen hsiung, September 19, 2009
had deeply divided the rakyat. He warned however that if utusan continues to hantam and threatened the non-malays, the country will be unstable and chaotic. Its licence
will be suspended if continued'..sounds more correct
The reality is utusan has
..incited and proked the malays to hate and trample on the non-malays
..threatened, intimidated and put fear and anxiety in the hearts of the non-malays
..promoted extremism and fanatism racheting racial tension
..used to attack the opposition
..failed to truly and honestly report the failures of the various public instituitions
leading to a lack of confidence and trust in them
..defied and undermine the 1malaysia concept
written by spirit away, September 19, 2009
written by rosmana, September 19, 2009
buat lapik kat reban ayam - orait lah..
written by bully, September 19, 2009
written by Paul Ong, September 19, 2009
written by Shit house on Fire!, September 19, 2009
Any other media would received a show cause letter why their permit should not be withdrawn !!
written by AK-47, September 19, 2009
Ingat masih zaman batu kah?
Word gets around much faster nowadays,
you can't be inconsistent in what you do and say and get away with it anymore.
written by Awang Selamat, September 19, 2009
written by blooloo, September 19, 2009
written by True 1Malaysia, September 19, 2009
So the 1 Malaysia concept is just a gimmick afterall by the BN. March 8 2008 is just the beginning of BN losing grip. We can't afford stupid policy that help certain quarters yet penalising the majority. Let's not forget the Port Klang Free Zone, where billions of fraudulent claims are made. This is all our contribution to several top politicians/businessman. And this is just one example of billions lost!
So what had Utusan done! None Utusan editor is detained under ISA! This is BN!
written by NajibBane, September 19, 2009
Utusan is obviously biased and inciting racial and religious sentiments and hatred all the time!
written by Bigjoe, September 19, 2009
written by MindlessMalaysian, September 19, 2009
Simply does not have what it takes to lead and build and grow a nation - just dysfunctional
written by 2525, September 19, 2009
written by 2525, September 19, 2009
written by sktan, September 19, 2009
from today onwards, I (and I hope you all too) reject najib's 1Malaysia!
written by UM from Hell, September 19, 2009
written by Duck, September 19, 2009
written by daniel chang, September 19, 2009
Corruption, PKZR, half delivered government service, flip flop education policies, raising economic expenses, staunch Islamic practices, racial driven interest and failure of legal system. Abuses from MACC & police forces, and the list goes on. It had to be a miracles or money to make the Bn/UMNO to stay in power.
written by Al L., September 19, 2009
written by fedddup, September 19, 2009
Let us call upon the chinise daily (Sin Pin etc) invite the PM to a dinner and see what the b*rger will talk.....You all don't play with fire ah???
written by Durian Besar, September 19, 2009
1-Malaysia? Only fools believe him.
written by v.giri mudeliar, September 19, 2009
written by cslee, September 19, 2009
You are doing yourself a political harakiri as the days progress. You are a two headed snake to say the least. You are dubious. You have just proven to be such a hardcore hypocrite.
You have the audacity to rebuke and chastise the so called national paper but you don't. This goes to show you do not wish to correct their bigoted and racist rhetoric but supported their sensational irrational article that spells disunity, malice and what not. What a pity and how pathetic?
written by Malaysian, September 21, 2009
Anyway just based on the report above, I'd say this: 1Malaysia just went down the 1Malaysia Longkang!
written by franciskok, September 21, 2009
written by zidane, October 04, 2009
written by siew eng, November 15, 2009
"Do Utusan Malaysia think that all of us, Malaysians, are as stupid as themselves?"




