‘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. It focused mainly on issues such as the protection of Malay interests. In the 1950s, during the high point of Malay nationalism, Utusan Melayu Press was gradually incorporated under the control of the UMNO (United Malays National Organisation). The Jawi text on the cover of the August 1955 issue reads, "God is great above all others and God is most praiseworthy".
