Waspada was first published by Mohammad Said and his wife Ani Idrus on 11 January 1947, in the midst of Indonesian National Revolution.

Issuance of the second number on Monday (because the paper was not published on Sunday) had to be compacted, on the opposite page only a notice was displayed.

This stance was shown through firm and sharp news and articles against the Dutch who continued to try to exert their influence and grip on occupying Medan and its surroundings in order to control plantation lands, such as the tobacco area or spice commodities.

Tribuana Said's sympathetic appearance led many publishers of Medan-based newspapers to appoint him as chairman of the Medan branch of Association for Promoting Sukarnoism (BPS).

The current motto Demi Kebenaran dan Keadilan (For the Sake of Truth and Justice) has been appeared since 1 February 1969.