‘There was a sense of helplessness’

Sin Chew pursued an independent editorial policy with a stance of defending Chinese education, says Tay.

WHEN Sin Chew Jit Poh, along with The Star and Watan, was shut down by the Home Ministry on Oct 28, 1987, it went through the darkest and most trying moments in its history, according to the book Walking Tall – 80 Years Sin Chew Daily.

Before Operasi Lalang, the paper was struggling for survival as its Penang-based owner then, Datuk Lim Kheng Kim, was facing financial difficulties after being hit by the 1986 recession. Pay cheques were often delayed and the paper came close to foreclosure.