Entrepreneur Development Minister Redzuan Yusof has claimed that the defunct Malay language paper Utusan Malaysia is not done and dusted, but poised for a comeback soon.

According to a report in the New Straits Times, Redzuan was at a programme in Tenggayun, Johor yesterday to campaign for the Tanjung Piai by-elections when he asked if members of the press, including those from Utusan, were present.

When he was reminded that the daily had ceased operations on Oct 9, he said:

“Utusan is still around. It will be re-launched, God willing, around the New Year.

Redzuan said the re-launched paper would help disseminate information on the (government’s) policy implementation.

"Some of which have been done and some are being carried out right now,” he said.

On Oct 9, Utusan officially ceased operation after 80 years. All staff members were told to go on forced leave until Oct 30.

The Malay daily was first published as Utusan Melayu in Jawi in 1939 before it switched to romanised Malay in 1967. Operations ground to a halt on Oct 9, making it the third long-standing daily paper after Tamil Nesan and Malay Mail to cease publications within a 10-month stretch.