New daily provides little hope of impact
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.
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