A number of readers of The Star in Kuala Lumpur did not get their daily at home today, and neither could they find it at several outlets.

This was the result of a boycott launched by several vendors in Kuala Lumpur over the daily's move to promote its direct subscription drive.

It is learnt that The Star wanted to impose this plan in a bid to boost its circulation further last year, but backed down after protests.

However, in a surprise move, one of the top executives of The Star decided to implement the policy without consulting the vendors, who see this as affecting their livelihood.

Sources familiar with today's boycott of the newspaper said a team of vendors tried to hand a memorandum to The Star' s chief executive officer Ho Kay Tat yesterday, but he did not want to receive it.

This prompted some 200 vendors to gather at the iconic Central Market early this morning to refuse to accept the MCA-backed newspaper for distribution.

It is learnt that some 30,000 copies were returned by the vendors protesting what they claimed to be an unfavourable policy imposed on them.

Sources said the boycott may expand to other places in the Klang Valley tomorrow and further cripple the daily's distribution.

The Star sells about 250,000 copies daily nationwide, the bulk of it in the Klang Valley.

Some outlets in Bangsar affected

Malaysiakini also checked four premises in the Bangsar Utama locality and found the daily available in three places.

Even at 11am a staff member at the 7-Eleven outlet on Jalan Bangsar was puzzled as to why the newspaper had not arrived yet at the convenience store, which normally gets it by 4am.

Malaysiakini had yet to receive its copy this afternoon when the vendor recounted the boycott, and claimed he did not receive any copies.

Another vendor who declined to be named told Malaysiakini that the protest stemmed from the refusal of the management of The Star to discuss its direct subscription proposal with them, especially since this would affects their livelihood.

"They are asking new readers to subscribe directly with the newspaper office, to eliminate the role of the independent vendors. Some of the vendors have been distributing and selling newspapers for 40 years... this is the only trade they know, it is their livelihood.

"The direct subscription scheme will affect our earnings. The Star gives a small amount of commission despite the paper being heavy, which limits us from carrying a lot of copies as we distribute house-to-house.

"As a result of this, some of the vendors have to use a van for the distribution, instead of a motorcycle, and this means added costs," the vendor said.

The situation with The Star worsened, he added, when its management refused to meet the vendors and accept their memorandum yesterday.

Not sidelined

In a related development, a member of The Star’ s circulation staff confirmed that the paper was facing some distribution problems today but said the matter has already been resolved.

The employee, who declined to be identified, said if readers face problems they should call the circulation department and give their vendor’s name for a copy to be delivered.

A representative of Market Square Vendors Association S Sekar said following a meeting with the Star Publications (M) Bhd management this evening, both parties have agreed to settle the issue.

He said The Sta r's management has agreed that the affected vendors would not be sidelined by the newspapers’ direct subscription drive.

" The Sta r agreed that they will not exclude us as vendors following the (direct subscription) drive.

"Following this, we have agree to settle the issue and there won't be any boycott further. This is if The Sta r would abide by the agreement on not to sideline us anymore.

"As far as we are concerned this (dispute) is settled," he told Malaysiakini .