Zahid slams Maszlee, says Utusan an educational tool

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 7 years ago · Published on 1 Aug 2018 10:45PM · 22 Comments

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the party-owned Utusan Malaysia 'is not merely about politics'. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 1, 2018.

AHMAD Zahid Hamidi has taken Dr Maszlee Malik to task over an Education Ministry memo instructing universities and schools to stop subscribing to the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.

The Umno president said the move is unwise, and that sections of the newspaper serve to educate students.

“I feel that the minister has the final say. The decision is uncalled for.

“Utusan is not merely about politics. It has other sections that offer knowledge to students and teachers.

“If he (Maszlee) is a wise man, he would not have allowed the memo to be circulated by his special officer. This move does not benefit anyone,” he said at an event in Sg Kandis.

It was reported that the ministry has instructed schools and universities to end their Utusan subscriptions, via a memo issued through Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who is a special adviser to the education minister.

“The minister has requested that Utusan Malaysia subscriptions for all divisions, agencies, schools, universities, colleges and institutions under the Education Ministry be ceased immediately,” said the memo, dated July 18 and addressed to the ministry’s chief secretary, Mohd Gazali Abas.

A ministry official has confirmed the memo’s authenticity.

Zahid said Maszlee – a first-time MP and minister – could have other agendas for issuing the order.

The education minister, however, said he is not aware of any instructions from the ministry for educational institutions to discontinue their Utusan subscriptions.

However, he said, the ministry supports any move to save money.

“I will have to check first. Anyway, we are in cost-cutting mode. Today, there are a lot of newspapers that we can read online.

“Any move that can save taxpayers’ money, we will support,” he told reporters in Parliament.

The Utusan management said it wants a meeting with the ministry to find out the reason for the order.

Utusan group executive chairman Abd Aziz Sheik Fadzir said the company has yet to receive an official notice on the matter.

“We have not received any order from the ministry. But according to the marketing side, it is only the Education Ministry in Putrajaya that has stopped its subscription.

“The others have yet to receive any instructions to cease their subscriptions. For instance, programmes in schools are through sponsorships,” he told Malaysiakini. – August 1, 2018.

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Comments

  • Zahid, you've got to be joking...

    Posted 7 years ago by Muzaffar Shah Mustaffa · Reply

  • we do not need Utusan because they give fake news always.Better to go on line to read other things for knowledge.

    Posted 7 years ago by Silvadas Paramu · Reply

  • That's like saying Israel is not a Jewish state

    Posted 7 years ago by David Churme · Reply

  • Educational, haha. Nice one Zahid, nice one.

    Posted 7 years ago by Gerald Lau · Reply

  • Zahid , did you read the Utusan to get your Phd.???

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • In the first place. Umno is trying to protect the sustainability of utusan by forcing the schools to support the newspaper....it should terminate this support let them to survive on its own.

    Posted 7 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • Good to stop subscribing to propaganda news from UMNO. Save money and stop brainwashing by UMNO.

    Posted 7 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • All news paper can do the same, why must the new govt use Utusan?

    Posted 7 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

  • It is surprising they have not cancelled for all government departments yet.

    Posted 7 years ago by Xuz ZG · Reply

  • Your mind will take you out of anything rotten & take you places if you practise insight meditation, & all will be well. Very little to suffer. No need for any newspaper or online news portal. Try it to see & experience for yourself what awaits..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • well done Mazlee! God bless

    Posted 7 years ago by Mike leow · Reply

  • Zahid read Utusan and got his PHD, Permanent Head Damage....

    Posted 7 years ago by Hong Leong Ooi · Reply

  • Utusan group executive chairman ie waiting for a directive? From whom? For what?

    Posted 7 years ago by The Rover · Reply

  • Hahaha. Utusan an educational tool? Yes, its an educational tool to train people to be racists and bigots as well as to lie and hate others.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • Utusan Malaysia is a newspaper, its circulation depends on its readers, and the readers have to pay for the paper. Its willing seller, willing buyer affair. Zahid, the UMNO President now takes it an affront because the Ministry of Education has requested all govt funded InstItutIon to terminate the subscription, for reasons of austerity driver and also Utusan Malaysia is now longer a newspaper carrying national and international news, but mainly political news. It becomes a mouth piece of a certain political party - UMNO which is now in the opposition. Therefore it makes no sense for the govt to spend rakyats money to support an opposition newspaper. Zahid acted as if UMNO is still the govt.! Wake up Zahid!

    Posted 7 years ago by Chris Kwan · Reply

  • "Utusan an educational tool"

    Hahaha,,,hohoho....hahaha...cukup lucu

    Posted 7 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

  • Klu Utusan Zaman, Yes...mmg educational tool for exposing and disseminating the masterpiece, short stories, poetries or writings poetries

    Posted 7 years ago by Azie Sa'ari · Reply

  • Klu Utusan Zaman, Yes...mmg educational tool for exposing and disseminating the masterpiece, short stories or literature writings. Utusan Melayu yang dihentikan juga sgt membantu dalam konteks pendidikan bahasa Jawi. Utusan Malaysia? Hahahaha...... malas nk ulas!

    Posted 7 years ago by Azie Sa'ari · Reply

  • Looks like this kundie got his PhD solely reading Utusan

    Posted 7 years ago by Watchdog Watchdog · Reply

  • Earned your sales Utusan. This is not the UMNO government. Why do we have to pay for bad rubbish? Serves you right. Even given for free, schools, universities should reject Utusan ... until they give us a worthwhile product

    Posted 7 years ago by NA Bayezid · Reply

  • Sowing racial hate is NOT educational. Unaccountable editorial i.e. Awang Selamat is not educational. Toilet paper is also not educational but at least it serves a purpose unlike Utusan.

    Posted 7 years ago by Billy Wong · Reply

  • Utusan a BN Propaganda Tool.

    Posted 7 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply