PUTRAJAYA cannot bail out Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd as it is a private company, said Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said it’s also not right to blame Pakatan Harapan for Utusan’s financial woes

“Utusan had already been bleeding for many years and that has been exacerbated by a change of government as there’s no longer protection,” said Anwar after meeting with groups and Federal Territory leaders, in Kuala Lumpur today.

Anwar was responding to former Umno president Najib Razak’s Facebook post yesterday, blaming Pakatan for Utusan’s problems.

The former prime minister said that Utusan could be shut down because the new government had frozen Umno’s accounts for allegedly receiving money from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

He said PH could not be counted on to rescue the country’s oldest Malay-language paper.

“Don’t expect PH to help Malaysia’s oldest newspaper. Don’t expect PH to save these Malay cultural treasures,” Najib said.

“Therefore, it is time for all people to come forward to help by buying a copy of Utusan or Kosmo.”

Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, said it would be good if “something could be done” to save Utusan.

He said Utusan had played an important role in Malaya’s fight for independence and had a special place in the hearts of many Malays.

“And although many have also pointed out that Umno has used the newspaper to attack its political enemies, it would still be sad if it were closed down.

“If its editorial position can switch to something that is more nation-building, I hope that it can be saved.”

The government, however, should try to ensure that journalists’ allowances and wages were paid, Anwar added.

The paper’s management after a town hall meeting with staff today said it would pay each employee a partial payment of RM2,000 tonight towards the salaries they were owed to tide them over this period.

The management also announced that Utusan Malaysia and sister paper Kosmo! would continue publication but sell at 50 sen more each. Starting Friday, the cover price is RM2 for Utusan and RM1.50 for Kosmo! – August 20, 2019.