The saturated Chinese newspaper market in Peninsular Malaysia is expected to see yet another competitor in September when a Sarawakian newspaper group launches a new daily.
It is learnt that the newspaper to be called The People's Daily is financed by KTS Sdn Bhd, a plantation company owned by timber tycoon Lau Hui Kang, the elder brother of Sarawak United People's Party politician Robert Lau Hoi Chew.
Hoi Chew is also the member of Parliament for Bandar Sibu. KTS currently owns two Sarawak-based newspapers and Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press by Nanyang Press Holdings.
Sarawakian timber businessman Tiong Hiew King owns Pemandangan Sinar. MCA's investment arm bought Nanyang Press for RM230 million in May last year despite strong public protest over the takeover.
According to the Audit Bureau of Circulation's statistics in 2000, Sin Chew leads with a circulation of 298,921; followed by China Press (202,066); and Nanyang Siang Pau (187,458).