The statement by MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik that the party does not interfere in the editorial policies and decision-making of the Star newspaper, while not surprising, must be contested.

The fact that we are owned by the MCA is enough to give all MCA leaders, not just Dr Ling himself, the authority to dictate what stories should or should not be run, how stories should be angled, what pictures to use, and what pages stories should appear on.

In fact, nearly every Chan, Fong and Lim in the MCA thinks it is their right to receive coverage in The Star . And when they do not, phone calls are often placed to harass the editors or journalists.

While the MCA leadership is not physically in the newsroom to hand out directives, there are direct and clear lines of communication maintained between the party leadership and editors/consultants (and even some journalists) in the newspaper.

We agree and attest to the description of how the MCA has interfered in the editorial running of The Star by Ex-Star Journalist ('Ling lies about 'non-interference'', May 30), and would like to give more examples:

1) During the general elections, news coverage is highly skewed towards the MCA and the rest of the Barisan Nasional. Journalists who cover the opposition find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to see their stories as a page lead, what more a front page story. Many more opposition stories do not even see the light of day.

Many of us struggle to give prominence to the opposition in the interest of fair play and democracy, and because of the importance and validity of an issue, but we are often thwarted by the fear of repercussion from our owners and the government.

2) Issues that are highly contentious are often kept out of the newspaper. Some examples: stories critical of mega projects such as the Bakun dam and the Highland Road projects have been censored because they challenged the Barisan Nasional government's decisions and policies, of which the MCA is a part of.

3) Problems within the MCA itself receive little or no coverage in The Star , and often journalists have to read about them in other media. If the factionalism within the party is reported at all, it favours those in power and not those contesting them.

4) During the Gerakan tussle to remain in power in Penang after the general elections, phone calls were continuously made to the editor to write commentaries that favoured the MCA in the hope that the party would gain control of the state government.

5) The only time former opposition leader Lim Kit Siang was on the front page of The Star in recent times was when he was in a road accident several years back, and was injured. It was thought then, and even now, that that was probably the only time the opposition would find itself on the front page. Even a human interest story about DAP leaders Lim and Karpal Singh on how they met was relegated from the front page of one section of The Star to the back pages.

6) On a smaller level, friends of the managing director, and even some of the editors, can influence whether an issue or event receives coverage or not. One example is how The Star does not highlight the Perwaja Steel issue. If even on that 'small' level, such influence is wielded, what more on a national level where real political power is at stake.

Because each and everyone of us has experienced in some way or other how the MCA wields control and influence in the newsroom, we find it hard to swallow the assertion that the party will not interfere in the editorial policies of Nanyang and the China Press .

In fact we see the consolidation of media ownership, especially the national press, in the hands of political parties, as a serious threat to the independence of the press in Malaysia.

Having said that, we also feel it is important to say that many people in The Star still believe and struggle on a daily basis for the integrity of journalism, despite the pressures we face. And it would be untrue and unfair to say that all members of The Star editorial team are mere MCA stooges.

Those who have singled out certain editors as being the mouthpieces of the party should bear in mind that it is because of the power structure that exists between the government and owners on one side, and the editorial team on the other, that often times editors and journalists have little choice but to tow the line. It is also this same power structure that allows some members of the editorial team to consciously collude with the powers that be without being reprimanded by the company or the profession at large for undermining the ethics of journalism.

This in itself lends credibility to our argument that Ling's assertion must be contested.

Let us not kid ourselves. The MCA, like any other political party, will use the media it owns to maintain its point of view and disseminate its propaganda. Why shouldn't it? It is after all interested in maintaining political power. Any other political party would do the same.

If the MCA truly believes that it does not want to undermine press freedom and independence in Malaysia, it should not own any national press in the country, rather than expect the nation to trust in its benevolence and good will.