Berita Harian (Malaysia)
Berita Harian is a Malay-language daily newspaper in Malaysia. It was published by the New Straits Times Press and was first issued on 1 July 1957. Its Sunday edition, BH had debuted on 10 July 1960.
History
Berita Harian was the first romanized Malay-language morning newspaper published on the British-influenced side of the Malaysphere when it launched on 1 July 1957, contemporaries like Utusan Melayu at the time were still publishing in the Jawi script. On 10 July 1960, it introduced its Sunday equivalent Berita Minggu. During its early years, the publication mirrored The Straits Times in content, was priced at RM0.15, and operated with a small editorial team of eight members. Abdul Samad Ismail was appointed as its first editor in April 1958.Several milestones followed:1966: BH introduced a revised masthead.1968: The Sunday edition featured Lat's Keluarga Si Mamat cartoon series.1972: The Malaysian and Singaporean editions become separate and distinct.1974: The Page count increased from 10 to 12, allowing for expanded content, including trade, photography, and foreign news.1975: Price raised to RM0.25.1981: A comprehensive redesign introduced new sections and increased entertainment coverage. The price increased to RM0.35, then to RM0.45 in 1983.1985: Berita Harian and Berita Minggu were consolidated into Berita Harian Sdn Bhd.1989: The sports section expanded with the launch of Jaguh, a 16-page pullout.1992: Special daily supplements such as Berita Pelajar, Berita Wanita, and Berita Teknologi were introduced.1993: A new subsection on computing was launched, later evolving into Berita Komputer.1995: A major overhaul introduced changes to fonts, images, and layouts, shifting focus from regional to national and international news.2001–2003: The newspaper expanded its educational sections and introduced the youth-orientated IKON pull-out.2004: Daily circulation reached approximately 238,000 copies. Regional editions gained front-page stories tailored to different areas.2008: BH transitioned from broadsheet to compact format.2009: BH became Malaysia’s most visited online newspaper by October 2010.
Format changes
On 5 July 2008, BH transitioned from a broadsheet to a compact format. This shift included structural updates and the introduction of youth-oriented content.With the rise of digital media, BH expanded its online presence and launched mobile services, providing real-time news updates. By 2010, it had established itself as one of Malaysia’s leading digital newspapers.
On 1 July 2012, BH revamped its sections, renaming Ekonomi to Bisnes, Ratu to Famili, and Rona to Kembara. Additional changes in typography, layout, and pagination were also introduced.