Enduring presence of vernacular media in Singapore not by chance, says Josephine Teo as Tamil Murasu marks 90 years
It is one of the oldest Tamil-language newspapers in the world, and one of the few newspapers to have lasted nine decades
[SINGAPORE] The continuing presence in Singapore of vernacular mainstream media outlets such as like Tamil Murasu is not by chance, but a result of careful policy design, strong community support and continual efforts to innovate, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo on Jul 6.
It is also aligned with the city-state’s deep commitment to multiculturalism, she said at a dinner to mark Tamil Murasu’s 90th anniversary.
The Tamil daily, which is published by SPH Media, celebrated the milestone anniversary at the event, which President Tharman Shanmugaratnam attended as guest of honour.
In a speech to about 1,000 gathered guests, Teo noted that Tamil Murasu is one of the oldest Tamil-language newspapers in the world, and one of the few newspapers to have lasted nine decades.
Apart from India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, even countries with large Tamil populations such as Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, do not have Tamil dailies. This is possibly due to distribution challenges, or the largely transient nature of their Tamil communities, she added.
Teo said she was heartened to see Tamil Murasu experimenting with new products and different ways to connect with its audience, in an era of technological disruption and shifting consumer preferences.
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Such efforts included a mobile news app launched in 2023 for readers to get the news on the go, and dialogues with youth to build meaningful connections with the next generation.
Noting that the declining use of mother tongue languages by Singaporeans is a challenge confronting all vernacular media outlets, Teo said she was glad that Tamil Murasu was sustaining efforts to reach young readers through various formats.
This includes the newspaper’s new youth brand Ilaya Thalaimurai, to be launched later in 2025.
“(This) is a good example of what it takes to make Tamil accessible and engaging – not just a school subject, but a living language connected to our identity, culture, and pride,” she said.
The Tamil-language daily has made significant contributions in Singapore’s journey as a nation, such as when it provided timely health information in Tamil during the Covid-19 pandemic, she noted.
“You also shone a light on the service and sacrifice of unsung heroes in the community, from frontline medical professionals to volunteers, and community leaders,” she added, and that this had uplifted and united the community.
In the earlier decades of nation-building, Tamil Murasu helped the Indian community during Singapore’s transition from kampong living to public housing, she noted.
“Through its editorials and stories, Tamil Murasu helped the Indian community see public housing less as displacement and loss, and more as active participation in Singapore’s modernisation and progress,” she said.
The newspaper also helped to promote understanding and dialogue around Tamil as a Mother Tongue Language during the introduction of the bilingual education policy, which led to increased support for Tamil education and related programmes.
Through its editorials and commentaries, it promoted constructive dialogue that informed policy and helped to prevent divisions from deepening, said the minister.
“Once again, Tamil Murasu played a critical bridging role, by enabling greater understanding of the rationale for the policy, while also giving voice to the community’s concerns.”
Voice of the Tamil community
Tamil Murasu editor T Raja Segar, who also spoke at the event, reflected on how the newspaper started in 1935 as a weekly newsletter, before it quickly became “the voice of the Tamil community”.
“It was the bridge to the homeland of many who came here to work and wished to stay connected to what was happening back home,” he recounted.
The paper has also been “a companion for many, a teacher in the classroom, a window to the world, the bridge between government and people, a platform for storytellers and poets, and a steadfast beacon for our community”, said Raja, who added that it has “evolved without losing its soul”.
He added that Tamil Murasu will continue to experiment, such as with artificial intelligence tools to make the newspaper an even better product. THE STRAITS TIMES
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