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Monday, March 3, 2008

Why Free Newspaper in Malaysia Doesn't Work

There's one good thing about working night shift, is that I can get my hand on The Sun newspaper. I have to get it fast though because it will be gone in half an hour after it arrives in the building's lobby at around 6.45 a.m.

You'll think, wah Malaysian are all so keen reader now. Sapu all The Sun newspaper in half an hour time. At first I think I was proud of my fellow Malaysian too, until just now when I saw the stalls worker of the cafeteria taking a stack (20-30) of The Sun newspaper to her stall. I don't think she's gonna read any of it. Most obvious reason is to use it to pack nasi lemak.

Then another man from the Indian stall took yet another stack of The Sun and walk sheepishly towards his stall. I was looking at him, that's why he is a bit embarassed. I mean, WTF? Come on, this newspaper is meant to be read. If you want to pack your nasi lemak or roti canai use la old newspaper. If each stall took a stack then there won't be much left for those that really read the newspaper.

Let's say The Sun deliver about 300 circulation to the office building I worked in, half of the 300 being used to pack nasi lemak, pack mee hoon goreng and to start the stove. The real readership the got was 150 readers in the office building I worked in. Ah, The Sun is not really reaching to it's target audience, what will the advertiser say about this if they find out that half of the new circulation went to nasi lemak packaging.

No wonder we don't have a newspaper vending machine like those in the USA, where you put in some coin, open the cabinet and take a newspaper. If it is used here, one of the mamak stall worker will put in a coin, take all the newspaper in the cabinet. There goes our Vision 2020.

13 comments :

HairyBerry said...

i dunno if they staple the free newspaper or not but in singapore, they do...perhaps that'll make it more difficult for them to bungkus things.

amb3r1te said...

the free newspaper in my college is really useful tho. esp for students like me who cant be bothered to buy them. but i agree that they always get snatched up really fast.

wmw said...

Gosh, I had no idea some people were doing that. That's awful behaviour!

Simon Seow said...

nic: nope, the newspaper is not staple but even if it's stapled, it's easily can be removed.

amy: but at least college student read the paper.

wmw: yupe, only yesterday I found out there's ppl like that.

Anonymous said...

What the? Use free newspaper to wrap nasi lemak? That's really low of them to do that.

When I was in MMU there were also free Sun newspaper.. taken like hot cakes too lol. Nowadays I just read the news online.. easier mah

Simon Seow said...

I still prefer to flip my newspaper. LOL.

sheryl said...

my mom used to give stacks of catalogue papers to the kacang putih seller in my primary school. she says using newspaper is dirty.

Simon Seow said...

yeah, ink from the newspaper is a slow poison. It contain small dosage of Cyanide.

Holly Jean said...

hey simon.. am abt to leave for KL in a few mins.. going alone tho.

so if you wanna hook up for a chat or walk abt.. all the SG ppl are at Tune Hotel. (not sure what room no yet.. can enquire at reception i guess??????????

:) cheers!

Anonymous said...

But if the people who eat their ta-pau breakfast read the ads before throwing the packets away (especially after they see the newspaper date), then the advertisers have achieved their objective of reaching the people.

Simon Seow said...

holly: met ya in the party already. ;)

anonymous: maybe maybe.

Anonymous said...

Simon,

Would suggest dropping an email to The Sun, detailing whichever kiasu culprits you know of. Let them decide whether they want to orchestrate some "shame these lowly people" operation together with television and newspaper media.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Dear Simon,
Very true indeed...sigh...fugly Malaysians...sigh...