The Star Publications (M) Bhd has defended its politically-slanted news reports and advertisements during the 13th general election to shareholders at its annual general meeting (AGM), and has also denied talk of attempts to wrest the company away from its major shareholder, MCA, which had fared badly in the election.

The Star’s shares have slumped by about 20 percent this year, but the company said that the loss stemmed from a fall in its classified ads business.

They denied that the loss is due to readers who were abandoning Malaysia’s “best-selling English-language newspaper”.

"During this time, a lot of people scold us... some of our editorial staff were getting very worried.

"If people scold you, it means they love you... it’s not scolding that means you are in trouble,” The Star deputy chairperson and executive director Vincent Lee (left) told reporters after the AGM.

“If they don’t talk to you and walk away, then you are in trouble,” he added.

Sources said that there has been considerable introspection over The Star’s election coverage, especially among staff, some of whom expressed their concern over the risk to the company’s main business.

Just days after the election, a group of analysts from the Centre for Public and Policy Studies (CPPS) and the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) - who were accredited local observers of the 13th general election - described the polls as “partially free, but not fair”.

They pointed out a BN-biased media coverage.

However, The Star group chief editor Wong Chun Wai (right) disagreed with their statement.  

"I was scolded by both sides. If I was scolded by both sides, I think I am okay,” he said.    

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