‘Mastika’ was a monthly magazine published by Yusof Ishak, one of the founders of the Utusan Melayu Press. Years later, in 1965, Yusof Ishak became the first President of the Republic of Singapore. Utusan Melayu Press was the first Malay newspaper in Singapore that was entirely owned and published by Malays, as previously the Malay newspapers were owned by Muslims of Arab or Indian origin. The Jawi text on the cover of the May 1955 issue is a Malay poem which literally translates to, "Dilapidated hut, coconut tree. Horrible clothes do not matter.Dark clouds in the morning sky. As long as your heart stays pure".
