Divesting Umno's stake in Utusan Malaysia may not necessarily turn the newspaper's fortunes around, two Umno leaders said, after the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) suggested the Malay ruling party do so.

According to Umno supreme council member Ahmad Shabery Cheek, newspapers across the world are making losses.

"Even Washington Post is suffering. They were once a big media organisation and are now becoming an internet paper.

"If the NUJ think that should Umno divest their shares and (Utusan) will turn a profit tomorrow, that would be too simplistic," said Ahmad Shabery.

Ahmad Shabery, who was once communications minister, said Utusan and its editorial team must find new ways to attract readers.

"If the NUJ really wants to help the journalists in Utusan, they should come up with some concrete strategies, not just asking Umno to divest their shares," he told Malaysiakini.

Utusan had recently delayed salary payments twice, which signaled the newspaper's poor financial situation.

This prompted the NUJ to suggest that Umno should no longer be the Utusan's shareholder, while noting that the Malay-language broadsheet was also suffering from many courtroom defeats.

Umno information chief Annuar Musa concurred that divesting Umno's stake alone will not help the newspaper.

He said the main problem was that there are people who consciously refuse to support Utusan because of its editorial policy.

But Utusan was not just an ordinary newspaper, said Annuar.

"It is a part of the Malay nationalist struggle. It is not just a business. It was the only newspaper that rose in tandem with the independence process.

"They were part of the long road towards building Malaysia. That is why Umno has a stake in the newspaper, because we believe in their philosophy and their struggle," he said.

Annuar expressed confidence that Utusan's shareholders will come to a decision on how to turn the newspaper around.