More than 100 journalists of the two dailies under Nanyang Press Holdings today staged a historic picket outside their offices against the takeover of their parent company by MCA-controlled Star Publications.

The protest is believed to be the second picket in the history of this country, after Utusan Melayu 's 100-day demonstration in 1961 led by its then chief editor Said Zahari to oppose the eventual takeover of the paper by ruling political party Umno.

At about noon today, the journalists from Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press - comprising editors, sub-editors, photographers and writers - gathered in front of the Nanyang Siang Pau office in Petaling Jaya.

With yellow ribbons - the symbol of liberalism - tied on their foreheads, wrists and hands, and adorning their clothes, they held posters and banners, shouting "press freedom", "say no to MCA control" and "defend the pride of journalists".

Their non-editorial colleagues, activists, students, and members of Chinese organisations and opposition parties also joined the picket. Some even gave flowers to the journalists to show their support.

"We say 'no' to the MCA takeover. We do not want to be a mouthpiece for the political party," said spokesperson Chou Z Lam who led the crowd in the chanting.

"Fight for press freedom, reject the shameful takeover," the journalists chanted spiritedly for half an hour as drivers in passing cars honked their support.

The group then left for the China Press office at Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, for the 'second round' of the picket.

Although the weather had turned bad by then, the downpour did not dampen the spirit of the staff who held the picket in one of the corridors, chanting "no rotten fish" and "press freedom".

"The public will not keep quiet about the takeover," said Tang Ah Chai, the chairperson for the Committee Against the Takeover of Nanyang Press by MCA, or CAT for short.

"We hope the staff will fight to the very end until MCA is defeated. It is our duty to defend press freedom," he added.

Blackout

The protestors also questioned the credibility of top-selling Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh and its English counterpart The Star as news coverage of the Chinese community's objections against the deal had been totally blacked out for the past few days in the two dailies.

"We should be aware that the takeover is not merely an issue for Nanyang or China Press , but concerns all journalists and public interest. Sin Chew and the other media have a duty to report the truth, and not black out the opinions of the people," said Tang.

For the past few days, Chinese organisations have criticised Sin Chew - whose slogan is 'integrity above all' - for rejecting their press statements, including the protest of 14 Chinese leading organisations such as Dong Jiao Zong, and the press release of Chinese commerce chambers.

Tang described the blackout as another form of censorship and news monopoly.

"The political parties that control Malay and English press have proven that the only beneficiaries (from political ownership of the media) are the parties themselves, and the interests of the people are forgotten," he stressed.

Ding Lee Leong, spokesperson for Nanyang Siang Pau staff, said the protest by Nanyang Press employees and the Chinese community is strong and significant, yet it was blacked out by The Star , thereby contradicting MCA chief Dr Ling Liong Sik's statement last week that The Star is a credible, truthful and responsible paper.

"Where is the report of the Chinese community's grievances with regard to the takeover by The Star ? And where is the credibility of The Star ?" asked Ding, adding that the staff wanted to have a dialogue with Ling before this Friday.

Keadilan's president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali also joined the picket and talked to the staff.

"More and more curtailment is coming; the attempt is to reduce press freedom," said Wan Azizah.

She said the public is very concerned about the change in ownership because, as observed by opposition parties, the Chinese press have been giving fair reports compared to the Malay and English dailies.

Emergency meeting

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said the BA Leaders' Council will hold an emergency meeting on the proposed takeover on Thursday because of "its far-reaching repercussions on the Chinese community, Chinese mother-tongue education, press freedom, human rights and democracy in Malaysia".

"The MCA takeover is the greatest threat to press freedom after the last general election and is clearly part of a larger political game plan to stifle dissent and save the crumbling political power structures of the BN and its component parties," Lim said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the deal was not politically motivated and that he was neither objecting nor supporting the acquisition.

Asked if he would intervene to stop the proposed deal in view of protests by Chinese groups, Mahathir told reporters: "I don't see what business it is of mine to block the deal."

His deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was reported by Nanyang Siang Pau today as saying he understood the feelings of the Chinese community on the proposed deal.

While he understood the protests, he also said that it was a business deal which is decided by both buyer and seller.