Dr Ling Liong Sik's assurance on non-interference in the editorial management of MCA-controlled newspapers after the party's takeover of Nanyang Press Holdings Berhad still resounds. He claimed that MCA has never interfered in Star's editorial management.

What then, are we supposed to infer from the following:

1) Vice-president Chua Jui Meng's speech at the Kedah MCA State Convention on July 6 was widely carried in all newspapers except The Star which did not carry a single word of it. The cold reception by the Kedah MCA delegates of Ling's speech was never reported by the paper, too.

2) Chua's announcement on the control of the use of 3-MCPD (3-monochloropropanediol, a carcinogenic food contaminant) in sauces on July 8 was headlined in most newspapers. It was not even reported in The Star .

Ling's announcement of the letter of invitation to set up Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman was headlined in The Star , together with his 'standing ovation' at the MCA Perak State Convention on the same day. Many delegates did not stand up. Some of those who stood up at the urging of others looked bewildered and confused as to what the commotion was about.

The engineered 'standing ovation' was headlined whereas an important announcement on the control of the use of a seasoning that affects the health of all consumers was not even reported.

The facts above are only two recent examples. Can we believe this assurance from Ling of non-editorial interference, after years of telling Star editors what news to print or not to print?

Editor's note

: The Star refused to respond when contacted.