The newspaper was launched in September 1926 by Parada Harahap, then editor of Bintang Hindia.
[1] Before its first issue, the Dutch language newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië was already recommending it to "the natives" due to Harahap's reputation for hard work and dedication to good journalism.
[2] The editorial lineup in the first year, aside from Harahap, were G. Soetadipradja, Kadar, Hatnid and Abdullah Badjrei, with assistant editing by Saadah Alim.
"[5] Bintang Timur apparently resumed publication in early 1953 after being unable to publish during World War II and the Indonesian National Revolution.
[6] Under its new guise in independent Indonesia, Parada Harahap once again became president-director and head editor, and promised that the paper would have a "national progressive" line and to present the news in a responsible and neutral manner.