Getting your story into the news starts with a simple question. Which outlets should you pitch? Malaysia has a busy media scene. There is news in Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil, plus TV, radio and specialist titles.
This list of media companies in Malaysia covers the main groups and the outlets they run. For each outlet, you will see what it covers and which stories suit it. Use it to plan your next press release, media pitch or launch.
We list outlets only, not personal journalist contacts. Later on, we show you how to build your own media list the right way. Prefer to hand the work over? SLPR also offers press release distribution in Malaysia.
At a glance
- Malaysia’s major media companies include Media Prima, Astro, Star Media Group, Media Chinese International and the state broadcaster RTM.
- Bernama is the national news agency. Most Malaysian news outlets subscribe to its wire service.
- Pitch in the outlet’s language. Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil media each have their own editors and readers.
- Readers have moved online. Print news use has fallen from 45% in 2017 to just 14%.
How Malaysia’s Media Landscape Is Changing
Before you pitch, it helps to know where Malaysians get their news today. The Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026 shows a clear shift.
- Print is shrinking. Print news use fell from 45% in 2017 to 14%.
- TV is declining too. TV news use fell from 54% to 36% over the past decade.
- Creators now share news. About a third (32%) of Malaysians get news from influencers and content creators who focus on news.
- Trust is low, but broadcast leads. Trust in news fell 7 points to 30%. Broadcast brands, led by Astro Awani, remain the most trusted.
- Newsrooms are smaller. In mid-2025, Media Chinese International cut 44% of its staff as it brought AI into its work. The group publishes Sin Chew Daily, China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau.
The industry also has a new self-regulatory body. The Malaysian Media Council was set up in June 2025 under the Malaysian Media Council Act.
What This Means for Your PR Plan
- Plan for online first. Most readers now find news on screens. Add links, images and short quotes that work on news sites and social feeds. Online coverage can also support your SEO and digital marketing.
- Use broadcast for trust. A TV or radio interview gives your story credibility and a human voice.
- Make every pitch easy to use. Smaller newsrooms have less time. Send clear, complete and accurate materials.
- Add news creators to the mix. Creators who cover news now reach a large audience. Our social media team can plan creator content alongside your press coverage.
Major Media Companies in Malaysia
A few large groups own many of the country’s best-known outlets. Knowing who owns what helps you see how the market fits together. But each title has its own editors, so pitch them one by one.
|
Media company |
Main outlets |
Languages |
|---|---|---|
|
TV3, 8TV, TV9, NTV7, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro and Buletin TV3, plus radio stations Hot FM, Fly FM, Kool FM, Molek FM and Eight FM |
Malay, English, Chinese |
|
|
Astro |
Astro Awani news channel, plus Astro Radio stations such as Era, Hitz, MY and Raaga on the SYOK app |
Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil |
|
Star Media Group |
The Star and mStar |
English, Malay |
|
Media Chinese International |
Sin Chew Daily, China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau |
Chinese |
|
RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) |
TV1, TV2, TV Okey, Sukan+ and Berita RTM, plus radio stations such as Nasional FM, TraXX FM, Ai FM and Minnal FM, streamed on RTMKlik |
Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil and more |
|
National news wire, Bernama TV and Bernama Radio |
Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic, Spanish |
|
|
Kumpulan Media Karangkraf |
Sinar Harian |
Malay |
|
The Edge Media Group |
The Edge Malaysia and EdgeProp |
English |
Malay-Language Media
Malay is the national language and is read across the country. Malay outlets suit mass-market brands, public sector news and community stories.
|
Outlet |
Type |
Stories that fit |
|---|---|---|
|
Newspaper and news site (Media Prima) |
National news, education, business, consumer stories |
|
|
Newspaper and news site (Media Prima) |
Popular news, lifestyle, human-interest stories |
|
|
Newspaper and news site |
National news, policy, community |
|
|
Newspaper and news site |
Popular news, entertainment, consumer stories |
|
|
Newspaper and news site (Karangkraf) |
Current affairs, state news, community |
|
|
News portal (Star Media Group) |
Entertainment, lifestyle, viral stories |
|
|
24-hour news channel and news site, in Malay and English |
National news, business, live events |
Tip: Write your Malay release with a native writer. A word-for-word translation of an English release often reads awkwardly, and editors notice.
English-Language Newspapers and News Portals
English-language outlets are widely read by professionals, decision-makers and urban audiences. They suit corporate news, business stories and expert commentary.
|
Outlet |
Type |
Stories that fit |
|---|---|---|
|
Newspaper and news site (Star Media Group) |
National news, business, lifestyle, metro news |
|
|
Newspaper and news site (Media Prima) |
National news, business, government |
|
|
News site |
Breaking news, politics, lifestyle |
|
|
News portal in English and Malay |
Breaking news, politics, business, lifestyle |
|
|
Subscription news portal, also in Malay, Chinese and Tamil |
Politics, policy, investigations |
|
|
News site |
General news, business, lifestyle |
The Reuters Institute calls Malaysiakini the country’s oldest independent news portal. It suits policy and public-interest stories more than product news.
Chinese-Language Media
Chinese-language newspapers are a key channel for reaching Chinese-speaking Malaysians. They cover national news, business and local community events in detail.
|
Outlet |
Type |
Stories that fit |
|---|---|---|
|
Newspaper and news site (Media Chinese International) |
National news, business, community |
|
|
Newspaper and news site (Media Chinese International) |
Popular news, consumer, local stories |
|
|
Newspaper and news site (Media Chinese International) |
Business, national news, community |
|
|
Newspaper and news site |
National news, lifestyle, consumer stories |
|
|
Newspaper and news site, based in Penang |
Northern region news, business, community |
Tip: Chinese editors expect releases in well-written Chinese. Ask a native speaker to check names, job titles and terms. A Chinese-speaking spokesperson also makes interviews easier to arrange.
Tamil-Language Media
Tamil-language media serve Malaysia’s Tamil-speaking Indian community. There are fewer titles than in other languages, so it pays to know each one well.
- Makkal Osai: Tamil daily newspaper with a news site.
- Malaysia Nanban: Tamil daily newspaper, founded in 1986.
- Malaysiakini Tamil: the Tamil edition of Malaysiakini.
- Raaga (Astro) and Minnal FM (RTM): Tamil-language radio stations.
Titles do close, so check before you pitch. Tamil Nesan, a long-running Tamil daily, stopped publishing in February 2019.
TV and Radio Stations in Malaysia
Broadcast brands are still the most trusted news sources in Malaysia. A TV or radio slot gives your story credibility and reaches people beyond print and online readers.
Main TV Channels
- Media Prima: TV3, 8TV, TV9 and NTV7. TV3’s news brand is Buletin TV3.
- RTM: TV1, TV2, TV Okey, Sukan+ and Berita RTM, also streamed on RTMKlik.
- Astro: Astro Awani, a 24-hour news channel in Malay and English.
- Bernama: Bernama TV, a free-to-air news channel.
TV news desks need pictures. Pitch stories with something to film and people who can speak on camera.
Radio Stations by Language
|
Language |
Stations (owner) |
|---|---|
|
Malay |
Era, Sinar, Melody, THR Gegar and Zayan (Astro); Hot FM, Kool FM and Molek FM (Media Prima); Nasional FM and Radio Klasik (RTM); Asyik FM (RTM, in Malay and Orang Asli languages) |
|
English |
Hitz, Mix and Lite (Astro); Fly FM (Media Prima); TraXX FM (RTM); BFM 89.9 (independent business station) |
|
Chinese |
MY and goXuan (Astro); Eight FM (Media Prima); Ai FM (RTM) |
|
Tamil |
Raaga (Astro); Minnal FM (RTM) |
You can find Media Prima’s stations on Media Prima Audio. Astro’s stations stream on the SYOK app. Radio works well for interviews, contests, events and consumer tips.
Business, Trade and Specialist Media
Specialist outlets reach smaller but highly relevant audiences. A story in the right trade title can do more for you than a passing mention in a mass-market paper.
|
Outlet |
Focus |
Stories that fit |
|---|---|---|
|
Business and markets |
Financial results, deals, funding, leadership |
|
|
Business news |
Corporate news, economy, trade |
|
|
Business news |
Corporate news, SMEs, appointments |
|
|
Business and markets |
Corporate news, markets, opinion |
|
|
Business radio and podcasts |
Founder and CEO interviews, expert views |
|
|
Health |
Healthcare, pharma, health policy |
|
|
Technology |
Device launches, telcos, apps |
|
|
Technology |
Telco plans, gadgets, digital services |
|
|
Automotive |
Car launches, EVs, industry news |
|
|
Property |
Project launches, property market data |
|
|
Startups and SMEs |
Founder stories, funding, new ventures |
|
|
Fashion and luxury |
Fashion, beauty, luxury launches |
|
|
Viral and lifestyle |
Consumer stories, feel-good news |
|
|
Viral and lifestyle |
Trending and community stories |
|
|
Marketing trade |
Campaigns, agency news, brand appointments |
East Malaysia: Sabah and Sarawak Media
Sabah and Sarawak have their own strong local press. If your story matters to East Malaysians, pitch these outlets directly. Give them a local angle, such as a new branch, local jobs or a community project.
- The Borneo Post: English newspaper and news site covering Sarawak and Sabah.
- Daily Express: English newspaper and news site based in Sabah.
- Sarawak Tribune: English newspaper and news site based in Sarawak.
- Utusan Sarawak: Malay newspaper and sister title of the Sarawak Tribune.
- DayakDaily: English news portal focused on Sarawak.
- See Hua Daily News: Chinese newspaper based in Sarawak.
Bernama: Malaysia’s National News Agency
Bernama, or Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia, is the national news agency. It publishes news in Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic and Spanish.
Most Malaysian news outlets subscribe to Bernama’s wire service. This means one Bernama story can be picked up by many newsrooms. Bernama also runs Bernama TV and Bernama Radio.
Bernama is a good fit for national announcements, economic news, government partnerships and stories with wide public interest.
Which Outlets Suit Your Story?
Use this table as a starting point. Then read recent coverage to find the right section and writer.
|
Your story |
Where to start |
|---|---|
|
Financial results, funding or a merger |
The Edge Malaysia, The Malaysian Reserve, Business Today, Focus Malaysia, BFM 89.9 and Bernama |
|
Consumer product launch |
The Star, Harian Metro, mStar, China Press and SAYS, plus lifestyle radio such as Hitz and Era |
|
Tech, gadget or telco news |
Lowyat.NET and SoyaCincau, plus Vulcan Post for startups |
|
Health or medical news |
CodeBlue and the health pages of major dailies |
|
Property launch |
EdgeProp and the property sections of major dailies |
|
New car or EV |
Paul Tan’s Automotive News and the motoring pages of major dailies |
|
Fashion, beauty or luxury |
Harper’s BAZAAR Malaysia and the lifestyle pages of major dailies |
|
Campaign or agency news |
Marketing-Interactive |
|
National policy or public sector news |
Bernama, Astro Awani, Berita Harian, Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times |
|
News for Sabah or Sarawak |
The Borneo Post, Daily Express, Sarawak Tribune, Utusan Sarawak and DayakDaily |
|
Chinese-speaking audiences |
Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Nanyang Siang Pau and Oriental Daily News |
|
Tamil-speaking audiences |
Makkal Osai, Malaysia Nanban, Raaga and Minnal FM |
Planning a launch? Here is what to include in a product launch press release.
How to Build Your Own Malaysia Media List
A good Malaysia media list is short, accurate and matched to your goals. Sending every release to every outlet wastes time and annoys editors. Follow these steps instead.
- Start with your audience. Who do you need to reach, and which language do they read?
- Shortlist your outlets. Use the tables above to pick outlets that reach that audience.
- Find the right desk. Business, lifestyle, tech and health desks work separately. Check each outlet’s contact or newsroom page.
- Read recent coverage. See who writes about your topic now, and how they cover it.
- Keep only work contact details. Use published work emails and official contact pages. Store only what you need, and follow the Personal Data Protection Act 2010.
- Review your list every quarter. Outlets close and rename. The Malaysian Insight closed in October 2024, and Kool 101 became Kool FM in November 2025.
- Track what works. Note which outlets ran your story and which did not reply. Use this to sharpen your next pitch.
Ready to send? Follow this checklist for submitting a press release to Malaysian media. If managing a list in-house is not practical, compare PR agency fees in Malaysia before you decide.
Tips for Pitching Malaysian Media
- Write in the outlet’s language. Prepare native Malay, Chinese or Tamil versions. Avoid machine translation.
- Lead with a Malaysian angle. Use local data, local people and local impact.
- Send everything at once. Include the release, captioned photos, a fact sheet and a spokesperson who can take calls.
- Time it well. Check the best days and times to send a press release in Malaysia.
- Keep paid and earned separate. Paid placements are advertorials and should be labelled. Here is how editorial and advertorial coverage differ.
- Follow up once. One polite follow-up is enough. Do not chase every day.
- Build relationships over time. Offer useful stories and experts, not just announcements. These practical media relations tips show how.
- Prepare for tough questions. Brief your spokesperson before interviews. If coverage turns negative, a crisis management plan helps you respond fast.
Need Help Reaching the Right Media?
Building a media list takes time. Keeping it current takes even more. SLPR Worldwide is a public relations agency in Malaysia. Our media relations services match your story to the right outlets, manage distribution and handle follow-up.
For Sasa Malaysia’s “Beauty Around the World” campaign, our multi-faceted PR media approach delivered 470 pieces of coverage and a PR value of RM16,742,529. See the Sasa Malaysia case study.
Have news to share? Explore our press release distribution service or talk to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main newspapers in Malaysia?
Major English titles include The Star and New Straits Times. Leading Malay titles include Berita Harian, Harian Metro, Utusan Malaysia, Kosmo! and Sinar Harian. Sin Chew Daily, China Press, Nanyang Siang Pau and Oriental Daily News are major Chinese titles. Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban publish in Tamil.
What is the national news agency of Malaysia?
Bernama, or Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia, is the national news agency. It publishes news in six languages and runs Bernama TV and Bernama Radio.
Who owns TV3?
TV3 is owned by Media Prima. The group also owns 8TV, TV9, NTV7, New Straits Times, Berita Harian, Harian Metro, and radio stations such as Hot FM and Fly FM.
What are the main online news portals in Malaysia?
Popular online media in Malaysia include Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail and mStar. Most newspapers and broadcasters, such as The Star and Astro Awani, also run their own news sites. For niche topics, try Lowyat.NET, SoyaCincau, CodeBlue or Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
How often should I update my media list?
Review it at least every quarter. Outlets close, rename and change staff often. Check each outlet’s website again before a big announcement.
How do I get my press release published in Malaysian media?
Choose outlets that cover your topic and reach your audience. Send a short, newsworthy release in the right language, with photos and a contact person. Then follow up once. Coverage is never guaranteed, so a strong story matters most.