2003

» On January 2, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd opened its new office in Putrajaya. Located at Block A-T 02-U 08, Second Floor, Jalan P8C/2, the latest bureau of NSTP is set to provide insider and in-depth coverage of events in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya.

» On April 1, Syed Faisal Syed Ali Rethza Albar was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), director and member of the audit committee of the The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd. He replaced En. Faiz Ishak who resigned from the board to join AMI Insurance.

» On July 14, NSTP signed a share sale agreement with Clear Channel International BV (CCIBV) and Clear Channel International Ltd (CCL) for 2.45 million shares in Clear Channel Media Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CCMM). The principal activity of CCMM is to manage,sell and maintain outdoor advertisements from billboard and transit advertising.

» On July 14, NSTP received the national “Sports for All 2003” award for best organisation of sporting events. The award, under the private company category, is a recognition by the Youth and Sports Ministry of NSTP’s efforts to organise sporting activities involving mass participation, such as the annual New Straits Times International Penang Bridge Run, the Metro Utara Open Bowling Championship, the Berita Harian Grand Slam Fishing Competition and The Malay Mail Big Walk.

» In August, the transfer of MRCB’s entire 43.5% share in NSTP to Media Prima Bhd was completed.

» On August 1, NSTP entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Commerce Asset-Holding Berhad for the disposal of 110,000 ordinary shares of RM1.00 each in AMI Insurans Berhad.

» On August 21, NSTP changed its financial year-end to December 31 from August 31, consistent with the reporting period of its new holding company, Media Prima Berhad.

» On August 28, NSTP through its subsidiary Pitisan Sdn Bhd completed the disposal of Prosakti Sdn Bhd to Sine System Sdn Bhd. In November, 2002 the Company signed a share sale agreement to sell its healthcare management services subsidiary Prosakti Sdn Bhd for RM1 million.

» On September 19, NSTP through its subsidiary company, Right Channel Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Clear Channel Media Malaysia Sdn Bhd) completed the acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in MMC-Ad Sdn Bhd.

» On October 22, Media Prima Berhad, a major shareholder of NSTP, was listed on the KLSE in place of TV3, upon completion of the restructuring of TV3 and the reorganization of MRCB.

» In November, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad resigned as NSTP Group Editor-In-Chief.

» In December, Berita Information Systems Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad won a contract to supply and maintain computers and software worth RM1.4 million to the Election Commission.

» On December, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd start renovation work to upgrade the in-house training facilities.

2004

» On January 1, Datuk Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan was appointed Group Editor-in-Chief and a director of The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, following the resignation of Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad.

» On February 18, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd disposed the entire issued and paid-up share capital of AMI Insurance for RM173.5 million to Commerce Asset-Holding Bhd.

» In May,, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd appointed a sole distributor in Southern Thailand to distribute its newspapers in Thailand. This move is to overcome the unregulated distribution of Malaysian newspapers in Thailand.

» On May 1,, a veteran journalist Hardev Kaur took office as the new Group Editor of NST Sdn Bhd, replacing Datuk Ahmad A. Talib who was made the Group General Manager, Communications and Editorial Marketing. This is the first time in its 158-year history the New Straits Times has appointed a woman to a top editorial position.

» On June 8, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers launched The New Straits Times Press-PricewaterhouseCoopers (NSTP-PwC) Young Humanitarian Award to give recognition to selfless deeds and hold them up as inspiration to the youths of Malaysia.

» On August 23, the digital version of the New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro and The Malay Mail were officially launched. The introductory price of the digitalised New Straits Times and Berita Harian was 75 cents per copy and for Harian Metro and The Malay Mail, it was 65 cents per copy. The digitalised New Straits Times and Berita Harian were available from 5.30am and Harian Metro and The Malay Mail at 10am.

» On October 13, Online advertisement booking system was put in place via http://nstpclassifieds.nstp.com.my, to make it easier for advertisers to place their classified ads. The service was developed by Enterprising Asia, a Multimedia Supercorridor Company which manages NSTP Appointments. It is the latest addition to NSTP’s print and online advertisement placements where individuals use mobile phones to book classified advertisements.

» On December 26, the New Straits Times & Berita Harian newspapers have launched the Malaysian Tsunami Disaster Fund to assist Government efforts in rehabilitating and helping the thousands of victims affected by this tragedy.

2005

» On Jan 1, Berita Harian Group Editor Datuk Hishamuddin Aun was appointed Deputy Group Editor-in-Chief of The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP), at the same time he retained his post as Group Editor, Berita Harian Sdn Bhd.

» On March 17, NSTP appointed Nur Amalina Che Bakri as Education Ambassador of Minda and Skor for one year, beginning April 1, 2005.

» On April 30, NSTP Group General Manager, Communications and Editorial Marketing, Datuk Ahmad A.Talib resigned.

» On May 3, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd introduced its newest pullout - the “U Buy U Sell” classifieds. “U Buy U Sell” would be available to NST readers in the central region and to The Malay Mail readers nationwide.

» On May 18, The New Straits Times Press Malaysia Bhd (NSTP) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) launched the Humanitarian Award. They included two new categories - Lifetime Humanitarian Award which is open to all Malaysians aged 40 and below, and the Team Humanitarian Award for organisations or groups of Malaysians comprising two people or more. The awards were to honour humanitarian acts and deeds that would otherwise go unrecognised.

» On June 1, advertisers in any of The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd newspapers can now make payments at 35 post offices nationwide. Clients placing advertisements in the New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro and The Malay Mail can now enjoy this privilege under a strategic partnership between Pos Malaysia Berhad and NSTP. The service is available in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Seremban. This will be extended to 100 post offices by year-end. The partnership provides a convenient method and venue for individuals or business operators to make classified advertisements payments.

» On August 10, TM Net Sdn Bhd is keen on collaborating with The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd on providing content in a multimedia format. The company’s main focus is the 3Cs, namely connectivity, where broadband penetration is continuously built; development of content and communication, and enhancing the customer’s experience.

» On October 24, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar received the Darjah Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (DSAP) which carries the title “Datuk”.

» On November 19, Datuk Hishamuddin Aun was appointed The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd acting group editor-in-chief to replace Datuk Kalimullah Hassan. Kalimullah’s two-year contract will end on Dec 31 and he has been appointed non-executive deputy chairman of NSTP.

» On November 26, the staff and families of the The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd celebrated the ‘Deeparaya’ open house at Balai Berita 2 in Shah Alam.

» On December 21, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and PT Abdi Bangsa, publisher of Indonesia’s third largest newspaper Republika, signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday to exchange news, features and staff. NSTP and PT Abdi Bangsa agreed to exchange exclusive interviews and news published in each company’s stable of newspapers. For a start, NSTP, through Berita Harian, will publish news and feature articles from Republika twice a week, while Republika will feature BH articles three times a week. The agreement was signed by NSTP group-editor-in-chief Datuk Kalimullah Hassan and PT Abdi Bangsa president director Erick Thohir, and witnessed by NSTP deputy group-editor-in-chief/Berita Harian group editor Datuk Hishamuddin Aun and PT Republika Media Mandiri president director Radityo Gambiro.

» On December 22, three photographers from The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd bagged the top prizes at the bimonthly Nestle-NPC Wall of Fame photography contest.

» On December 24, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd group newspapers (New Straits Times, The Malay Mail, Berita Harian and Harian Metro) and Nanyang Siang Pau are the official newspapers for the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2006. Event organiser Malaysian Automotive Asociation (MAA) signed an agreement to this effect with the two media organisations at Balai Berita, Kuala Lumpur. KLIMS 2006 will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre from May 26 to June 4.

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