MCA can buy over the Nanyang Press by force on the back of widespread opposition by the Chinese community but what have they purchased? Are they so foolish as to delude themselves that they have bought a vehicle to reach out to the Chinese community? The value of a newspaper is not in its physical buildings and printing presses, but in its credibility, readership and quality of its human resources. Fortunately, these intangibles are not for sale.

MCA will find itself having paid top dollar for a product which would have deteriorated sharply in value once it has got its grubby hands on it. By its very nature of being a political party, MCA cannot and will not maintain the intangible qualities which made the paper well read and influential.

Meanwhile, having rode roughshod over the will and aspiration of the Chinese community, MCA will find itself holding the short end of the stick in terms of the massive goodwill it has lost.

As for the 41 writers who stuck to their honour and refused to contribute any more to Nanyang Press, the best they can do is to start a Chinese online newspaper in the style of malaysiakini . This will be the best gift that they can give to the Chinese community in view of the fact that all the Chinese dailies may soon fall under partisan control.