Four top editorial staff of China Press were ordered to leave the office this morning after they were told to sign their 'resignation letters', which were issued to them by the new management.

General manager Ng Beng Lye, chief editor Puah You Lai, deputy chief editor Lim Woi Kiong and chief reporter Lee Kian Kiong received the 'tender for resignation' letters from China Press' new managers when they reported to work today.

China Press is one of two Chinese dailies under Nanyang Press Holdings that is being taken over by MCA-controlled Huaren Holdings.

The top staff of the other daily, Nanyang Siang Pau , had already been ordered to vacate their office by 8pm yesterday.

Among those told to leave are Nanyang's group managing director Wong Ah Lek, editor-in-chief Wong Kam Hor, deputy editor-in-chief Looi Chee Kien, group executive director Kou Yok Liong, managing editor Ng Yen Fah and senior feature writer Chung Bing Jiun.

Politically motivated

China Press' Lim, 35, told malaysiakini that the four of them were asked to sign their letters as if they were the ones asking to resign.

"I felt so sorry for the future of Chinese media in the country, and sad for the Chinese community," said Lim who started his journalism career 13 years ago in China Press , going through the ranks as reporter, news editor and executive editor.

He believed their thinly-veiled dismissal was politically-motivated rather than based on business considerations.

"I can find other jobs in other places, but what will happen to the Chinese press?" he lamented.

Lim said the four had also been 'advised' not to disclose the details of their 'resignation letter'.

He said he learnt the sacking would happen about a week ago because the four of them were on the list of people whom MCA wanted to get rid off upon assuming control of the newspaper.

Emergency meeting

Sources told malaysiakini that a new management has taken over Nanyang Siang Pau with immediate effect as of yesterday, led by rival daily Sin Chew Jit Poh 's group chief executive officer PC Liew who now assumes his new role at Nanyang as chief operating officer.

Meanwhile, the influential Dong Jiao Zong - an organisation which groups members of Chinese education bodies - and the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall have called for an emergency national meeting of Chinese organisations throughout the country at 11am tomorrow at the latter's office in Kuala Lumpur to protest the takeover.