The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCIM) today urged MCA to relinquish its takeover bid of Nanyang Press, the publisher of two major Chinese dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press .

"If MCA withdraws from the deal, the chambers will discuss with Hong Leong Group on how best to proceed from there and settle the transaction," said ACCIM president Lim Guan Teik.

Hong Leong Group is the major shareholder of Hume Industries whose 72 percent stake in Nanyang (inclusive of that of its wholly-owned subsidiary Hume Plastics) has been sold to Huaren for RM230 million in cash.

Lim was speaking to about 700 Chinese leaders representing 205 Chinese organisations from all over the country, at an emergency meeting to discuss the controversial takeover. ACCIM represents some 20,000 Chinese businessmen in the country.

The meeting was held at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur.

Lim urged the MCA central committee members who will be meeting later today to ''discuss'' the deal, to seriously consider and support public objection concerning the matter.

Recover posts

At the same time, Tang Ah Chai, Chairman of the Committee Against the Takeover of Nanyang Press by MCA (CAT) called on MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik to explain why the top management and editors from the affected papers were told to leave within 24 hours of the takeover.

This move was contrary to the MCA president's promise not to interfere in the editorial and management of the dailies, he said.

"If MCA wanted to prove that they had not interfered, those top posts should be recovered as soon as possible," said Tang.

The chairman added that if MCA wanted to own a party paper, it should have set up a new paper with the RM230 million it had used to acquire Nanyang Press.

"MCA should have competed with other Chinese media through its party organ, and not by taking over existing dailies," he stressed.

Tang also urged Hong Leong Group to explain whether the deal was made willingly or under pressure.

"If Hong Leong was forced to sell, we will back the group; but if it had been done willingly, then we urged the Hong Leong Bank customers to withdraw their money from the bank," he said.

Tang also suggested that the public should organise a roadshow in order to express their opinion and the chairman also urged political parties to clarify their stand on the matter.

He reminded professionals to uphold their integrity and pride by not accepting any offer from Huaren to assume the top positions in Nanyang Press.

Meanwhile, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall president Ngan Ching Wen said MCA leaders should not sacrifice the Chinese community for their own interests.

"If MCA does not care about the general will of the Chinese community, the party might have to pay a serious price in the next general elections," warned Ngan.

Five resolutions

The emergency meeting unanimously passed five resolutions made by the 205 Chinese organisations:

- to strongly object MCA's neglect of public opinion in its acquisition of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press ;

- to urge conscientious MCA leaders and grassroots members to respond to the appeal and strongly object to the acquisition;

- to call on the Chinese community to boycott the MCA-controlled Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , until the party relinquishes its acquisition;

- that MCA must not repeatedly defy public opinion or it will pay a high price in the coming general elections; and

- that Sin Chew Jit Poh 's failure to report and reflect the Chinese community's objection to the takeover is deeply regretted.

NUJ clarifies

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) said it was never in favour of the ownership of Nanyang Siang Pau and other local media organisations being held by political parties, "be it from the ruling coalition or the opposition front, and big businesses with political links".

Its vice-president Cheah Kee Ling said the union deeply regrets the action by "certain quarters" who have been distorting the union's statement to justify the proposed takeover of Nanyang Press by Huaren Holdings.

"This unethical act has led to confusion among our union members in Nanyang Siang Pau and the Chinese community at large," said Cheah, who is the NUJ-Nanyang Branch chairperson.