Two ex-Utusan Malaysia journalists said they hold no grudges despite getting the sack, but took issue with former chief editor Zainuddin Maidin wishing for the newspaper's demise, though not naming him directly. 

"We admit that we were sacked from Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad for our struggle in the National Union of Journalists due to unresolved employment issues.

"But what is clear was that we never held a grudge against Utusan Melayu, even though the Umno-owned company sacked us and we subsequently joined the Chinese-majority DAP.

"However, there is a former Utusan Malaysia chief editor who is still indulging in the past, and is even willing to pray for or predict Utusan's demise," ex-journalists Hata Wahari and Amran Ahmad said in a joint statement today.

Both had served as the NUJ branch chief at Utusan Malaysia. Hata was sacked in 2011, while Amran was dismissed two years prior.

The duo said that they would never wish for Utusan's demise as it was a company that had provided for them in the past and still has many people in its employ.

"Not only did Utusan provide him with a living for 10 years until he became the chief editor, this person, who we can describe as being ungrateful, was given the opportunity to become a minister not too long ago," their statement read.

The duo added that those who once led Utusan should retain the "Malay spirit."

"It is true that the government has changed, but Utusan's role in defending the Malay race has never changed, what more in a political environment where Malays appear to be in a precarious position," they said.

Both Amran and Hata, who are DAP members, launched attacks against their party just days before the 14th general election.

Amran had accused DAP of perpetrating a propaganda campaign against then-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, while Hata criticised the party for fielding the granddaughter of a former communist leader in the general election.