MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek said today that he was not in favour of the proposed takeover of Nanyang Press by MCA-controlled Star Publications.

Lim told malaysiakini that "100 percent of the Chinese community rejected the proposed deal" because they felt that the takeover would result in less available space for the community to voice its concerns.

"The recent criticisms by the Chinese community against the MCA should not be ignored by the party," he said.

Lim noted that the MCA leadership had not discussed the proposed takeover at their weekly presidential meetings and party president Dr Ling Liong Sik had not informed top leaders about the potential deal.

"Even being the second man in the party, I was not informed at all," he said.

Recently, it was reported that Star Publications was seeking to acquire Nanyang Press which publishes two major Chinese dailies -the Nanyang Siang Pau and the China Press .

Star Publications, which is controlled by MCA through its investment arm Huaren Holdings, publishes the top-selling English tabloid The Star .

When news of the proposed takeover bid hit town, many voiced their disapproval and claimed that MCA was attempting to widen its propaganda machinery since the party was said to be suffering a popularity crisis.

Last Saturday, a group of minority shareholders wrote to Nanyang Press executive chairperson Quek Leng Chan, urging him not to "relinquish control" of the two vernacular newspapers to a "Chinese-based Barisan Nasional component party".

'Thung Pau' example

In explaining his stand against the takeover of Nanyang Press by his political party, Lim cited the case of the now defunct Thung Pau Chinese daily as an example on how party-controlled newspapers are rejected by the Chinese-speaking community.

" Thung Pau , under the MCA, encountered many problems and eventually it had to close down," he said, adding this should be a lesson for MCA not to buy Nanyang.

Lim added the proposed deal would tarnish the image of MCA as it would be accused of being intolerant to criticisms from the Chinese community.

In addition, it will also bring have an adverse impact on the circulation of Nanyang Siang Pau , the flagship of Nanyang Press, he said.

Lim also warned that the takeover of Nanyang could also negatively affect the financial standing of Star Publications.

Asked whether the proposed takeover was connected to the crucial party elections scheduled for next year, Lim said the party's major preoccupation should not only be the hotly-debated issue of MCA's future leadership.

"If the Chinese do not support MCA, the party will become irrelevant and MCA will be in peril," he said.

Meanwhile, the Sin Chew Jit Poh today reported that Ling did not deny that Star Publications was interested in buying the Nanyang Press.

He also stressed that even though The Star was controlled by Huaren Holdings, MCA had not interfered in the daily's operations.