Why did The Straits Times make an effort to give wide coverage about the Natrah tragedy in 1950? Why did this newspaper deploy a strategy to publish letters from readers about Natrah within the specific period of time? What benefit is gained by this newspaper publishing comments and opinions from readers about Natrah? The answer lies in the fact that they were trying to maintain a support from the readers through the report of the Natrah report within the specific period of time. It is known this newspaper managed to spur its own polemic when the publication triggered the Natrah riots and causing casualties among the Muslims. Behind the publication, nevertheless, how reader’s reaction about Natrah? So, in the light of this issue, this article attempts to present how the report about Natrah of The Straits Times managed to influence the thinking and interest of the readers, particulary within the specific period of time. The strength of this article lays on its historical approach applied to interpret the intention and action in the History subject of the Natrah tragedy. This study contributes new findings and novel in its approach which situated from the reaction and thinking of the newspaper’s readers about Natrah.

Kebudayaan Melayu dan Islam mempunyai nilai kesepaduan yang kuat. Islam banyak mempengaruhi nilai amalan masyarakat Melayu dari segi cara berfikir, akhlak dan tingkah laku serta akidah dan kepercayaan. Walau bagaimanapun, ada di antara amalan seharian yang diamalkan itu tidak selari dengan ajaran Islam sehingga menyebabkan kemunduran kepada bangsa Melayu. Kajian ini, menganalisis isu kemunduran yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat Melayu yang beragama Islam pada pertengahan abad ke-20, seterusnya mengenal pasti sejauh mana peranan majalah Qalam membentuk minda masyarakat Melayu dalam mempersiapkan diri bagi menghadapi arus modenisasi sebelum merdeka. Kajian ini dilakukan dengan kaedah penyelidikan sejarah berbentuk kualitatif dengan menganalisis dan menginterpretasi kandungan majalah Qalam sebagai rujukan utama di samping rujukan pelbagai sumber yang terdapat di Arkib Negara Malaysia dan Perpustakaan Universiti Malaya. Tidak dinafikan lagi, Qalam adalah sebuah majalah Islamik yang melaungkan suara pemodenan dan perubahan kepada orang Melayu supaya terus ke hadapan seiring dengan pembangunan yang kian pesat. Qalam telah menjalankan tanggungjawab sosial sebaik mungkin dengan memperjelas kepentingan budaya berfikir yang menyeru agar masyarakat Melayu perlu menyingkir kepercayaan dan amalan tradisional mereka seperti taqlid buta, berserah kepada ketentuan dan nasib serta kepercayaan khurafat. Ini kerana perlakuan tersebut boleh membelenggu pemikiran dan merencat perkembangan orang Melayu mengecap kemajuan. Justeru Qalam mengesyorkan supaya ulama menjadi pemimpin ke arah membentuk minda masyarakat Melayu menghadapi cabaran kemodenan dengan berijtihad. Cabaran kemajuan memerlukan orang Melayu sedar akan kelemahan mereka khususnya tentang budaya berfikir. Oleh itu, mereka harus keluar dari kepompong kejumudan dan kemunduran ilmu pengetahuan agar dapat membina kecemerlangan berlandaskan acuan Islam sebenar.

No abstract

After the second world war, many Malay printing companies were formed to enliven the printing and newspaper industry in Malaya. Qalam Press was one of the Malay private printing companies established by Syed Abdullah bin Hamid Al-Edrus (Edrus), who played an important role in the publication of magazines, novels and religious works during the period stated. Qalam Press also has various strategies and ways to make the publications relevant and competitive compared to other printing companies. However, the publishing company also faced conflicts and problems of its own that caused various actions to be taken to resolve the problems mentioned. Thus, this research aims to evaluate Qalam Press's success in positioning themself as one of the leading Malay private printing companies in Malaya from 1948 to 1969. This research is qualitative historical research that also applies oral history methods. Research resources were obtained from the National Archives of Malaysia, IPTA Libraries throughout Malaysia, the National Library of Malaysia, government departments and others. The study found that Qalam Press succeeded in becoming one of the long-lasting Malay private printing companies in the printing industry due to various marketing and management strategies carried out by the company which is seen to help the development of Qalam Press. Keywords: Qalam Press, Malay Private Printing Company, Magazine, Novel, Religious Work.