The Chinese print media have been playing down Chinese education issues, particularly on the controversial Vision School project, claimed an association of Chinese schools.

Bok Tai Hee, the chief officer of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia - also known as Dong Jong - said since MCA took over two of the four major Chinese dailies four months ago, there appeared to have been a blackout of news on the Vision School.

"The Chinese community strongly objects to the Vision School concept yet the Chinese newspapers have been ignoring the issue," said Bok, adding that Dong Jong is facing difficulty in conveying its views to the community.

He said not many people are surfing the Internet for Chinese news, compounded by the lack of Chinese alternative news websites.

This is despite that a few websites such as Berita Generasi, Mytianwang.com and Thefreemedia.com have sprung up since the takeover to cater for the need for critical news and articles in Chinese.

"Not only are we being censored, we don't even have any space now," he said.

The Vision School project proposed by the government to integrate vernacular and government schools, is widely believed to be one of the issues contributing to ruling front Barisan Nasional's loss in the Lunas by-election last November.

A section of the Chinese community fears that the project will erode the independence of Chinese schools.

MCA control

Last year, two Chinese dailies, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , received a warning letter from the Home Ministry which reprimanded them for highlighting critical issues involving MCA, including the Vision School project.

In a controversial buyout in May, MCA's investment arm, Huaren acquired the two papers and replaced the top editorial staff within hours of the transaction.

Another major Chinese daily, Sin Chew Jit Poh , is regarded as supporting Ong Ka Ting, Dr Ling Liong Sik's protege, and is therefore under MCA 'control'.

"The ethnic Chinese largely rely on these papers to understand the education issues, but now such news are published in supplementary pages instead of national pages," claimed Bok.

Alarmed by the fact that at least nine Vision Schools are being completed throughout the country, Bok noted that the project has not disappeared even after BN's bitter experience in Lunas.

"The difference this time is - the government is not trumpeting it aloud," he said.

He added that the seven Chinese primary schools which have invited to participate in the Vision School project rejected the idea after strong objections from the Chinese community.