NSTP, Utusan merger on
The merger between New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) and Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd is believed to be ongoing while operationally, a few major changes are expected to take place.
Following a series of meetings over the weekend, the parties involved are believed to have come up with another “workable and acceptable'' plan that Utusan Malaysia and possibly some profitable publications of the Utusan group will remain as they are.
In view of the tradition and identity built up over the years as well an existing market for Malay papers, the Utusan publications will be sold nationwide and will maintain an independent editorial stance, sources said.
It is believed that the Utusan group is for the merger is targeted at helping the Utusan group save millions in its operations. This is when it can pool physical resources such as bureaus, offices and printing plants with NSTP, which publishes Berita Harian, Harian Metro and a few others.
It is understood that other cost-cutting measures and divestments are also being considered, while the shareholders will be briefed of the latest operational plan today.
Under the corporate exercise, it is believed that Umno would emerge as a major shareholder in the new holding company that will own and publish The New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, Utusan Malaysia and others.
Trading in NSTP and Utusan shares was suspended on Friday, pending their separate announcements of material transactions to be made known today.
The expected merger is expected to lead to a share swap with a new company that will be listed on Bursa. Umno, currently the major shareholder of Utusan, will swap its Utusan shares in the newco and thus become a substantial shareholder in the new holding company.
At the end of the exercise, NSTP and Utusan will be delisted.
Umno currently owns about 50.5% in Utusan via RHB Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn Bhd; the Finance Ministry has 6.9%. Media Prima, which owns several TV stations and recently bought three outdoor advertising companies – Big Tree Outdoor Sdn Bhd (70%); UPD Sdn Bhd and The Right Channel Sdn Bhd, owns 43.3% of NSTP.
Jenuh gak kepala hari ini berfikir, mengapa perlunya untuk Utusan dan NSTP bergabung? FYI (salah satu bahasa mIRC dan instant messaging yang membawa erti For Your Information), kedua-dua Utusan dan NSTP merupakan akhbar milik kerajaan, sepertimana yang diketahui umum.
Termasuk hal ini, 2 aktiviti 'merger' besar dijalankan selepas PAU 2006 (Perhimpunan Agung UMNO ya, bukan kuih PAU =) ). Selain daripada kes ini, the other merger is the merger of Golden Hope, Guthrie and Sime Darby by Khazanah Nasional through PNB. I wonder if this merger (Utusan & NSTP) is also a 'product' of Khazanah Nasional.
Looking at that point, it seems that Khazanah Nasional is making a big step upon Malaysia's future economy. Andai kata Khazanah Nasional memegang kesemua syarikat-syarikat ini, maka dengan senangnya Khazanah Nasional boleh mentadbir kesemua syarikat untuk menguntungkan lagi depa.
Still, the coin have 2 faces, the head and the tail. Pentadbiran baru ini, sekiranya benar, mungkin juga beerti Khazanah Nasional boleh 'mentadbir' untuk menguntungkan diri mereka sahaja, seperti mana rumours tentang isu penjualan saham Pantai Holdings.
Alright, now we come to the main issue. Why the merger? As what I see through my own naked eyes, the merger could be one thing : 'Mass media manipulation at its peak in Malaysia'. As what I've wrote earlier, both the newsgroups are owned by UMNO. However, the owners, though from the same ships, are different people.
If, this merger succeeds, for sure one have to go. Either the Utusan's or NSTP's side. With this, what I see is a big probability for KJ to yet unleash his power by controlling almost all media power in Malaysia.
With this, we could see Utusan's new face from liberty to bureaucracy, where every 'hot' issues must be seen by KJ's man. Honestly, I am pretty sure many will agree to me that between all NSTP's newspapers and Utusan Melayu, the liberty, freedom of speech, is much higher in Utusan Melayu. Even the New Straits Times and Berita Harian can't really say a thing right now. Don't believe me? Read the past news article on the issue of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa's Student Representative Council Election. If my mind remembers correctly, there were some wrongs in the article by Berita Harian about UIA SRC's election. Yet, Utusan dared its tounge to speak the truth.
With these merger, I am currently expecting the voice of Utusan to be silenced. Well, hopefully that is not true. After all, Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad is one of Utusan's Board of Directors.
No comments:
Post a Comment