While welcoming the lifting of the suspension on Chinese newspaper Oriental Daily News , a civil group and an academic said today it remains to be seen if the daily can provide more diverse opinions in a market already dominated by two major publishing groups.

The Committee Against the Takeover of Nanyang Press by Political Party (CAT) also noted that the situation is made worse by the fact that newspapers in the country have to operate within parameters set by political parties.

"The result of which is, certain issues or opinions would just 'disappear' abruptly as it did on several occasions recently. These issues were treated as if they were never there," said committee chairperson Tang Ah Chai when contacted.

Citing an example, he said opposition to the language switch for Science and Mathematics was blacked out or downplayed, especially after the Barisan Nasional supreme council reached a consensus in October to proceed with the policy with some modifications allowed to Chinese primary schools.

Tang, however, still hopes that the new daily will contribute to the flourishing of different ideas in the long run.

Political links

Oriental Daily was launched on Sept 29 and had its publishing permit suspended the same evening. It has ceased operation since then.

The daily was told early this week that the suspension was lifted. However, it has yet to decide when to resume publication.

Many observers believed that the suspension was linked to MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik and Sarawakian timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King, who are both known to be close associates.

Last May, MCA through its investment arm Huaren Management Sdn Bhd acquired Nanyang Press Holdings, publisher of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , amid strong protests from the Chinese Malaysian community.

Tiong controls Pemandangan Sinar Sdn Bhd which publishes Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily .

The four newspapers have a combined circulation of close to 800,000 copies a day.

Sorry state

Meanwhile, New Era College lecturer Chang Teck Peng was sceptical about the impact of the new daily on existing Chinese newspapers apart from economic terms.

"A number of readers are not happy with the performance of the newspapers in dealing with controversial issues like the language switch. The younger ones may shift to Oriental Daily .

"The new daily could widen a bit the space for writers with alternative views for some time but it does not necessarily mean that public opinion will become more plural and diverse," said the coordinator for media studies programme at New Era College.

Chang explained that due to competition, newspapers may include "some so-called critical content to portray themselves as a better choice, but they will have to behave when they get warnings from the Home Ministry or politicians from the Barisan Nasional".

He said the "oligopoly" in the Chinese newspaper market by Nanyang Press and Pemandangan Sinar is a "sorry state" for the readers as it restricts space for writers with critical viewpoints.

However, Chang, a former journalist with Sin Chew and a columnist with various newspapers prior to the Nanyang takeover, said the launch of a new Chinese daily is "better than none".

Attempts to get comment from Koo Ching, the chairperson for the Association of Chinese Newspaper Editors Malaysia and editor-in-chief of Sin Chew , were unsuccessful.