The Star Digital Access: A Message To Our Readers

MOKHTAR Dahari. Mona Fandey. MH370.

Together, we’ve celebrated jubilant moments, had our hearts shattered by tragedies, and witnessed the best among us make history.

Every second of every day, rain or shine, we are at the forefront recording the story of Malaysia as it unfolds.

Our greatest pride, however, is having you journey with us. That’s a privilege we will never take for granted.

Next year, The Star turns 50. We want to continue giving you our best. We have to note, however, that the media landscape has changed.

Amid soaring costs, the rise of social media has led to the rapid spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation. This is our biggest challenge.

But digitalisation and technology also mean endless possibilities. As we strive to bring you credible, quality content, it is just as important to us that these stories are told in the most engaging way possible.

The past year has seen unprecedented growth in our content team – journalists, photographers, editors, sub-editors, layout and graphic artists, now work alongside data analysts, videographers, multimedia designers and social media specialists.

The quest to bring you stories that matter means having to continuously invest in the best people and the latest technology.

You are at the heart of what we do, which is why the decision to charge for our online content is one that we do not take lightly.

In 1995, we launched Malaysia’s first news website and for the last 25 years, all our online content has been free. But this is no longer sustainable if we want to continue giving you good, compelling stories that are worth your time and attention.

From March 11, a 30-day free trial for full access to our web and app platforms will be offered. You can activate this at any time at thestar.com.my/subscribe.

When the trial ends, an introductory price of RM1.90 will be charged for a month. Subsequently, the price will be capped at RM9.90 per month.

If you do not wish to start your free trial or subscribe at this moment, you can continue to read a limited number of articles every month as a free user.

As part of the Fourth Estate, it’s our duty to keep Malaysians informed of issues that impact the country. It’s a responsibility we take seriously. For that reason, all breaking news will continue to be free.

Your understanding and continued support are greatly appreciated.

We don’t say this often enough, but THANK YOU for supporting us to be ‘The People’s Paper’.

Sincerely,

The Star team