Some people have wrote to ask about my well-being since I hadn't updated this blog in a while.
Over the past weeks, I have been doing something I did not get to do earlier due to various reasons: getting to know Malaysia better, in particular visiting Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang with friends and colleagues. In the coming days, I will write about each of these states / cities.
First, I want to touch on something that I think would be good for Singapore: the sale of Malaysian newspapers in Singapore.
When I was in Malaysia, I read the two key English newspapers: the New Straits Times and the Star.
Both these publications are now available in tabloid style - like Today or The New Paper in Singapore.
And on weekends - when I was in Malaysia mostly - the newspapers run into hundreds of pages with a variety of sections.
What impressed me was the quality of both publications. Both local news and world news were covered extensively. Their commentaries also left much food for thought.
I also came back with the impression that, unlike the past, these newspapers are now more willing and able to cover controversial issues and pursue investigative journalism.
But I was surprised to learn that Malaysian newspapers are not available in Singapore, and vice versa.
I am not sure what the reasons are for this; it's worth finding out. If you know, do leave a comment and share what you know with others and me.
With the formation of the ASEAN Community looming by 2015, companies and organisations in Singapore will come under increasing pressure to know ASEAN better and market their goods and services in the region. Indeed, some like my company are already feeling so and we now advertise in the Star.
Plus, Channel NewsAsia already runs feeds of the various ASEAN news broadcasters on its channel.
Perhaps, it is time for all ASEAN English newspapers, including Malaysian newspapers, to be freely made available in Singapore.
Until then, some like me, will have to read them online or rely on our Malaysian colleagues to buy and bring the Malaysian newspapers into Singapore!
Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav
5 comments:
You can sell or distribute Malaysian newspapers in S'pore under MDA guidelines. Just need a permit.
See
http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=223
Under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, the term “newspaper” means any publication containing news, intelligence, reports of occurrences, or any remarks, observations or comments, in relation to such news, intelligence, reports of occurrences, or to any other matter of public interest, printed in any language and published for sale or free distribution at regular intervals or otherwise, but does not include any publication published by or for the Government.
A Newspaper Permit is required if you intend to:
* Print or publish a newspaper in Singapore at regular or irregular intervals. This includes dailies, periodicals, company/society in-house newsletters, annual reports and directories
* Sell or distribute a Malaysian newspaper in Singapore; or
* Sell or distribute an offshore newspaper in Singapore.
An offshore newspaper is a newspaper published outside Singapore, at intervals not exceeding one week, which carries news or reports on politics and current affairs of any country in Southeast Asia, and with a circulation of 300 or more copies in Singapore.
Im student of journalism. I have assignment. Very important.
I read your blog about newspapers. I have question, what about Singapore newspapers in Malaysia? Im researching Singapore newspapers, and I would like to find them. Is it possible to find in Malaysia Singapore newspapers?
If not, can you advice me what websites I can take better version of newspapers? Better version, I mean like printing version.
Thanks!
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