Is Berita Harian Objective? Media Bias, Political Leaning, and Reliability
Berita Harian Overview and Political Bias
Observers often characterize Berita Harian as maintaining a pro-establishment stance, typically aligning with the Malaysian government's narrative. Critics argue the publication prioritizes Malay-Muslim perspectives and national stability over investigative dissent. It is frequently described as a vehicle for state-led developmentalism and traditional cultural values in its reporting.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center |
| Estimated number of readers | 1,200,000 |
| Israel support | Pro-Palestine |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Mass market / Malay-speaking population |
Berita Harian History
Launched on July 1, 1957, Berita Harian was Malaysia's first Romanized Malay daily. Originally established by the Straits Times Press, it was modeled after its English counterpart. Over decades, it transitioned from a broadsheet to a tabloid format, evolving into one of the nation's most influential Malay-language news outlets.
World News Map
Who owns Berita Harian?
Berita Harian is published by The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad, a subsidiary of Media Prima Berhad. Media Prima is a leading integrated media group in Malaysia, with ownership structures historically linked to investment arms associated with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the nation's long-dominant political party.