For over a decade now, Malaysiakini remains the most visited news site in the country.

We pride ourselves on the stories we write that keep the powerful in check, including our stories on the latest state corruption scandal.

One might be surprised to find that the size of our editorial team is dwarfed by many other media organisations in the country.

No more than 70 people keep Malaysiakini updated across multiple languages and platforms daily.

This feat is achieved because our newsroom holds a diverse group of people – with different interests, knowledge, backgrounds, and skills – all united by the same passion: bringing change to the country through independent journalism.

On the compact editorial floor at the Malaysiakini office, journalists from different desks sit scattered.

One Malay language desk reporter sits beside a Chinese reporter while news editors of different languages sit in a group.

The marketing team sits beside an English desk subeditor and a visual editor. They work seamlessly together.

At 5.30pm, everyone stops what they are doing and joins the editorial meeting to strategise together how to tackle what awaits the next day.

This collaborative approach allows Malaysiakini to pull from the diverse views and experiences of journalists and editors from the English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese desks.

Diversity

“Each person has something they specialise in,” shared B Nantha Kumar, a senior journalist of the Bahasa Malaysia desk, who is Tamil literate and has good access to the Indian community.

English desk subeditor G Vinod said that colleagues from different desks interact regularly and rely on one another for stories.

“We translate each other’s breaking news and share stories without working in silos. There is a strong sense of camaraderie among each desk,” he said.

It is common practice for Malaysiakini journalists to write in multiple languages or translate their own stories. Some Bahasa Malaysia talk shows the video team produces are subtitled in multiple languages.

English desk news editor Zikri Kamarulzaman has led journalists from the Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese desks in completing many tasks before, including directing coverage during elections.

He emphasises that language is not a barrier.

“While other newsrooms may also report in other languages, it’s not as collaborative as in the Malaysiakini newsroom,” stated Zikri.

“Teamwork is a key part of Malaysiakini’s newsroom, and leveraging each other’s strengths is crucial.”

Robin Koh, who heads the multimedia department, added that “the fun part of working at Malaysiakini is that we have a group of professional colleagues who can share opinions and even debate with each other openly.”

The dedication to diverse perspectives and a collaborative spirit allows Malaysiakini to deliver in-depth reporting that resonates with a broad audience across Malaysia.

Importance of independent journalism

Besides teamwork, another core strength at Malaysiakini is its strong commitment to editorial independence, as highlighted by Nantha.

“The editorial freedom given to me has helped me cover news, especially about the Indian community, without any restrictions or pressure,” he said.

Nantha covers a wide range of issues and feels proud about the exclusive stories that he does for Malaysiakini that other media refuse to cover due to political pressure.

“For example, I wrote about the assaulted disabled Grab driver. I am proud because Malaysiakini was one of the few portals that broke the news, and the suspect was eventually brought to justice,” he said.

Low Choon Chyuan, a senior journalist with the Chinese language desk, echoed this.

“Malaysiakini’s editorial is independent, as are Malaysiakini’s journalists.

“I was privileged to be independent, undisturbed by the state or advertising clients, and able to pitch and work autonomously,” he said.

Low published a special report in April 2024 on the issue of timber grab in Pahang in partnership with the Pulitzer Centre.

This commitment to independent journalism is more crucial than ever. We invite you to celebrate 25 years of holding power accountable and empowering Malaysians with the truth.

Subscribe to Malaysiakini today and save 25 percent to support the free press. You can gift our subscription to a friend, too.

Ayesha Maria is the Subscription Department’s Assistant Manager, taking care of corporate clients, customer retention, and subscription growth.