Sinar Sumatra

[1][2][3] It was one of the first modern Malay-language newspapers in Sumatra, aiming to become a popular forum for discussion and education as well as news.

[4] Its publisher De Volharding Press was a local company owned by two Europeans, M. A. van Tijn and Y.

[6][3] In August 1908 Rogge decided to return to Java and sold his shares to a group of local Chinese investors who co-owned and operated it with van Tijn from then on.

[17][18][19] Liem was highly critical of the colonial government and was a Chinese nationalist vocally opposed to the proposed Dutch Nationality Law for Indies Chinese; in the pages of the paper he often argued for the continuation of the status quo which had people like him as overseas citizens of China.

[26] As the new equipment was a more modern electric printing press, the company rebranded itself as the Electrische Drukkerij en Papierhandel "de Volharding".

[29] The paper faced a major blow in August 1928 when the entire editorial team resigned en masse, including Jap Gim Sek.

[30] The paper tried hiring several new editors, including Phoa Tjoen Hoay, Lie Soei Ho and A. Labab, all of whom only stayed a few months in their posts.