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106,754 (daily) 109,811 (BH Ahad) 3,766 (daily E-paper) 3,765 (BH Ahad E-paper) *Source: Audit Bureau of Circulations, Malaysia – July to December 2015[1][2]
BH, previously known as Berita Harian, is a Malay daily newspaper in Malaysia, published by the New Straits Times Press, first published on 1 July 1957. Its Sunday edition, BH Ahad (formerly Berita Minggu), debuted on 10 July 1960. By 2004, Berita Harian had a daily circulation of around 238,000 copies. Pricing strategies were adjusted to accommodate readers in different regions, such as Sabah and Sarawak.
Editorial cartoon by Peng, featured in the Berita Harian newspaper dated 7 September 1957, for the weekly column "Berita Harian Hidangan Hari Sabtu" (Berita Harian's Saturday Column).
"Mat Jambul Family" cartoon strip, published on 14 May 1961, in Berita Harian.
BH was the first Romanized Malay morning newspaper when it launched on 1 July 1957. On 10 July 1960, it introduced Berita Minggu, the first romanized Malay Sunday newspaper. During its early years, the publication mirrored The Straits Times in content, was priced at RM0.15, and operated with a small editorial team of eight members. Abdul Samad Ismail was appointed as its first editor in April 1958.
Several milestones followed:
1966: BH introduced a revised masthead.
1968: The Sunday edition featured Lat's Keluarga Si Mamat cartoon series.
1974: Page count increased from 10 to 12, allowing for expanded content, including trade, photography, and foreign news.
1975: Price raised to RM0.25.
1981: A comprehensive redesign introduced new sections and increased entertainment coverage. The price increased to RM0.35, then to RM0.45 in 1983.
1985: Berita Harian and Berita Minggu were consolidated into Berita Harian Sdn Bhd.
1989: The sports section expanded with the launch of Jaguh, a 16-page pullout.
1992: Special daily supplements like Berita Pelajar, Berita Wanita, and Berita Teknologi were introduced.
1993: A new subsection on computing was launched, later evolving into Berita Komputer.
1995: A major overhaul introduced changes to fonts, images, and layouts, shifting focus from regional to national and international news.
2001-2003: The newspaper expanded its educational sections and introduced the youth-oriented IKON pull-out.
2004: Daily circulation reached approximately 238,000 copies. Regional editions gained front-page stories tailored to different areas.
2008: BH transitioned from broadsheet to compact format.
2009: BH became Malaysia’s most visited online newspaper by October 2010.
Format Changes
On 5 July 2008, BH transitioned from a broadsheet to a compact format to align with evolving reader preferences. This shift included structural updates and the introduction of youth-oriented content.
With the rise of digital media, BH expanded its online presence and launched mobile services, providing real-time news updates. By 2010, it had established itself as one of Malaysia’s leading digital newspapers.
On 1 July 2012, BH revamped its sections, renaming Ekonomi to Bisnes, Ratu to Famili, and Rona to Kembara. Additional changes in typography, layout, and pagination were also introduced.[citation needed]
Educational Contributions
BH introduced several educational initiatives, such as the Berita Pelajar and Minda Pelajar pullouts, that were designed to engage students. The newspaper also launched Berita Komputer in 1994 to provide technology-focused content for readers interested in computing and digital literacy.
See also
Other newspapers in Malaysia published in the Malay language:
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