JOHOR BARU: Amari Hotel Johor Baru today celebrated the birthday of the nation's oldest newspaper – the New Straits Times' 177th anniversary – with a luncheon at its Bandar Baru Uda office here.
Present were journalists, staff of the New Straits Times Press and Amari Hotel general manager Andrew Tan, sales and marketing director Rohani Mohamed, executive chef Hairi Rahman and several hotel staff.
The hotel sponsored a huge brownie birthday cake signifying 177, the hotel's signature lemongrass drink and a special bento-box biryani rice with chicken and mutton. Also, included were some delicacies for the guests.
Prior to cutting the cake, Tan in his address said the hotel was happy to mark the auspicious occasion with the NST staff.
He said the oldest newspaper of the nation has come a long way since it was established in 1845.
"The NST used to be the biggest-selling newspaper in the country and till today it is still bold, thought-provoking and engaging," said Tan.

He said the newspaper has enlightened millions of readers.
"It has sharpened the appetite of successive generations of readers for news, information and knowledge," he said, adding that it will hopefully continue to do so for another 177 years.
Tan went on to say that over the years the newspaper had seen several changes moving from its broadsheet to tabloid size.
Since April 2005, the newspaper has been published in tabloid size, ending a 160-year-old tradition of broadsheet publication.
Thriving for excellence, said Tan, was the hallmark of the NST and it has proved so for the last 177 years.
Tan said the newspaper was still widely read in government departments and in the private sector too.
Meanwhile, Rohani, an ardent reader of NST, noticed that the paper was still as influential as it was before, revered and well-liked by the elderly and middle-aged groups.
"Another important fact is that the NST steadfastly sticks to its editorial role of helping society to master the world and will continue to do so," she said.
She said she hoped the newspaper will endure to grow and remain the number one English daily in the nation and prevail always.