Media
Star 1, ST 0.
One newspaper reaches out to citizens abroad; the other reduces web link with them. By Seah Chiang Nee
Jun 14, 2005

Singapore may be the most global country in the world, but in the media battle to link its citizens abroad, Malaysia has stolen a march on it.

Last week (June 11) The Star newspaper launched its Global Malaysians Network portal to serve as a rallying platform for the rising number of overseas Malaysians.

It came several months after its Singapore counterpart, The Straits Times Interactive started charging visitors, losing it the majority of some 150,000 Singaporeans abroad.

The Star is - by far - biggest selling newspaper in Malaysia, while The Straits Times is Singapore's only national. Its website is the major source of daily news from home.

Since it began charging visitors, however, the vast majority of 280,000 registered readers had quit, including Singaporeans abroad. For the latter, it ended an important link from home.

At any rate the ST had ceased its chatsite some years back.

The Star, however, moved in the other direction. It started a global portal for its readers abroad.

Its announcement explained: "Many Malaysians work or reside in other countries today. Responding to globalisation, a number of Malaysian professionals and entrepreneurs are also seeking employment and business opportunities abroad.

"The net result of all this movement is that a diverse and well-connected spread of globalised Malaysians exists overseas.

"It may seem like a brain drain, but viewed in a positive light, it shows that Malaysians are increasingly making their mark around the world.

"Taking it further, this global Malaysian community represents a wealth of opportunities both for those who are abroad, and those back home.

"In view of this, The Star is initiating a Global Malaysians Network to facilitate networking and tap into the resources - knowledge, skills, investment and contacts - that Malaysians can offer to other Malaysians wherever they are in the world."

A Malaysian blogger commented, "I was really glad that there is finally a platform to enable Malaysians globally to share experiences and built friendships. Such a portal has been long overdue."

(The writer contributes a weekly column on Singapore for The Star.)

Singapore may be the most global country in the world, but in the media battle to link its citizens abroad, Malaysia has stolen a march on it.

Last week (June 11) The Star newspaper launched its Global Malaysians Network portal to serve as a rallying platform for the rising number of overseas Malaysians.

It came several months after its Singapore counterpart, The Straits Times Interactive started charging visitors, losing it the majority of some 150,000 Singaporeans abroad.

The Star is - by far - biggest selling newspaper in Malaysia, while The Straits Times is Singapore's only national. Its website is the major source of daily news from home.

Since it began charging visitors, however, the vast majority of 280,000 registered readers had quit, including Singaporeans abroad. For the latter, it ended an important link from home.

At any rate the ST had ceased its chatsite some years back.

The Star, however, moved in the other direction. It started a global portal for its readers abroad.

Its announcement explained: "Many Malaysians work or reside in other countries today. Responding to globalisation, a number of Malaysian professionals and entrepreneurs are also seeking employment and business opportunities abroad.

"The net result of all this movement is that a diverse and well-connected spread of globalised Malaysians exists overseas.

"It may seem like a brain drain, but viewed in a positive light, it shows that Malaysians are increasingly making their mark around the world.

"Taking it further, this global Malaysian community represents a wealth of opportunities both for those who are abroad, and those back home.

"In view of this, The Star is initiating a Global Malaysians Network to facilitate networking and tap into the resources - knowledge, skills, investment and contacts - that Malaysians can offer to other Malaysians wherever they are in the world."

A Malaysian blogger commented, "I was really glad that there is finally a platform to enable Malaysians globally to share experiences and built friendships. Such a portal has been long overdue."

(The writer contributes a weekly column on Singapore for The Star.)