Malaya Nanban

Malaya Nanban, meaning ‘Friend of Malaya’, as a newspaper published during the tumultuous decade of 1941-1951 in Malaya. Despite interruptions caused by war and changes in ownership and frequency, it continued to serve the Tamil community. 

Malaya Nanban first appeared as a daily newspaper in October 1941, two months before the Japanese attack on Malaya. Swami Arputhananda, an editor advocating social reforms, was associated with the newspaper during its early days. By 1943, the daily was published from the South India Muslim Publishing House at 123 Serangoon Road, with R P M Ghani as the Editor and N Mohamed Ibrahim as the Managing Director. However, after the War, around 1946, Abdul Karim Ghani, the President of the Muslim League in Singapore, took over as the Editor and Publisher of the paper. With 28 pages and priced at 20 cents, the daily had by then turned into a weekly. Several Sub-Editors, including M Chidambaram and A Murugaiyan, played a role in enhancing the magazine's literary offerings over the years. Essays, short stories, serial stories, and plays were some regular features.

Ghani faced arrest in December 1950 in connection with the Maria Hertogh Riots and was subsequently detained. The last available issue of Malaya Nanban was published in May 1951. The reasons for its closure remain unknown.



For more information 
Baskaran, Bala. Tamil Journalism in Singapore and Malaya (1875-1941) Filling Up the Gap. Unpublished Manuscript
“We Were Taken By Surprise.” The Straits Times, 2 March 1951, 4. (From Newspaper SG)
“Karim Ghani Detained,” Malaya Tribune, 19 December 1950, 5. (From Newspaper SG)
“Emotions Aroused By Photos & Articles,” Singapore Standard, 7 August 1951, 8. (From Newspaper SG)
“Ghani Released For Treatment,” Singapore Standard, 22 April 1952, 1. (From Newspaper SG)
“Riot Commission Report In Full,” The Straits Times, 7 August 1951, 5. (From Newspaper SG)
“Karim Ghani, Riot Detainee, Freed,” The Straits Budget, 24 April 1952, 18. (From Newspaper SG)

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.