Staff of two Chinese-language dailies which is being taken over by political party MCA, came out today to oppose the move.
At a joint press conference this afternoon, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press journalists express their objection to the proposed acquisition of their newspapers by MCA's investment arm Huaren Holdings.
"As journalists who believe in professionalism, we take pride that Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press are free from political control," said group spokesperson Ding Lee Leong, who was accompanied by about 50 of his colleagues from both dailies.
"We believe that the media, being an important institution in any democratic society, must be free as far as possible from partisan ownership or intervention so that it is impartial, professional and accountable to the public."
Describing the takeover as "the greatest disaster" in the 100-year history of Malaysian Chinese press, Ding urged tycoon Quek Leng Chan, who has 70 percent stake in Nanyang Press through his company Hume Industries, not to succumb to pressure to relinquish control of the two dailies to MCA.
He told malaysiakini that the journalists are collecting signatures from their colleagues for a letter to be sent to Quek. According to Ding, since the signature campaign was launched two days ago, they have gathered about 200 signatures.
"Please do not sell Nanyang Press to any political parties," the journalists told Quek in the letter.
"We want to keep the 78-year-old Nanyang Siang Pau and 55-year-old China Press free from political party control," said Ding.
All under MCA
News that another Chinese-language daily is also eyeing a stake in Nanyang Press has raised fears that the takeover would eventually result in MCA acquiring complete monopoly of all four major Chinese-language daily newspapers in the country.
On Thursday, malaysiakini reported that Pemandangan Sinar, which publishes top-selling Chinese-language daily Sin Chew Jit Poh and Guang Ming Daily , is planning to buy an 18 percent stake in Nanyang Press.
Meanwhile, MCA's Huaren Holdings is expected to secure the remaining 52 percent of the 70 percent equity in Nanyang Press held by Quek's Hume Industries.
Pemandangan Sinar is controlled by Sarawak timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King, who is a former Sarawakian politician close to the ruling coalition.
The Nanyang and China Press journalists said that they were "disturbed" by the reports, especially when news and opinions against the acquisition had been totally blacked out" by Sin Chew Jit Poh and its sister paper Guang Ming Daily
They added that they were ready to take the battle to Hong Kong to urge the Chinese community there to boycott publications published by the Ming Pao group, which is owned by Tiong.
"We are prepared to call a press conference in Hong Kong to urge the Chinese community worldwide to reject the publications by the Ming Pao group."
Tiong, who originally made his fortune from logging in Sarawak, has a 70 percent share in Hong Kong-based Ming Pao group, which publishes the fourth largest daily in the territory.
In addition, he holds a stake in the Chinese version of Asiaweek ,
Yazhou Zhoukan , and owns English daily Nation in Papua New Guinea and a number of Chinese publications in Cambodia and Canada.Show of protest
Ding urged all journalists and members of the public who savour press freedom to wear yellow ribbons as a show of protest to the takeover.
Yesterday, 41 writers for Nanyang Siang Pau , calling themselves Writers Against Takeover of Nanyang Press By MCA, vowed to stop contributing to the newspaper to avoid being used by MCA "as window dressing to mislead their readers".
Those opposing against the Nanyang takeover are planning more protests in the coming days.
A demonstration outside the MCA headquarters is being planned for next Wednesday while opposition party Keadilan will organise a forum on Saturday at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
However, they are running out of time.
The MCA-Nanyang deal is expected to sealed by the end of next week. According to sources, MCA is worried that any delay in the agreement would allow strong public protests to derail the deal.
It is learnt that the deal will be signed by June 1 as MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik is expected to leave for a business trip overseas two days later.
Already a number of key editors have been told that they need not report to work tomorrow. It is expected that MCA will be moving some of its men from Sin Chew Jit Poh to take over the management of the two newspapers.
Ling has assured the public that MCA would not meddle with the two Chinese papers that his party is acquiring. He cited his party's non-interference policy in the top-selling English-language paper The Star , which the MCA owns through its investment arm Huaren Holdings.
" The Star is credible, reliable, truthful and responsible. It cares for the poor and under-privileged and is a nation builder. And we will do exactly the same with Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press ," he told reporters on Friday.
