MCA is hoping to use the Chinese media to mould public opinion within the community to repair the damage done by the ruling coalition's controversial policies and statements, claimed a media watchdog and two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today.

Charter 2000, a citizens' movement for press freedom, social reform group Aliran and the Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) said this in a joint statement in response to the controversial takeover of two Chinese dailies, Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press by MCA.

"The takeover is definitely not a purely business deal; it greatly reduces the already little space for independent newspaper reporting," said Anil Netto, the coordinator of Charter 2000.

On Monday, Huaren Management, which oversees MCA's financial arm Huaren Holdings, took over a 72 percent stake in Nanyang Press, which publishes the dailies, from Hume Industries and its wholly-owned subsidiary Hume Plastics for RM230 million in cash. Huaren also controls The Star , a leading local English daily.

Though the deal was a strictly business affair, according to MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik, it has evoked a barrage of criticism from the public, non-governmental organisations as well as several party members themselves who are concerned about the implications.

Press freedom

Anil called on all Malaysians to oppose the takeover on the grounds that it demolishes further the notion of press freedom and leads to a further erosion of democracy in Malaysia.

"Given that much of the mainstream media is already politically owned or linked, it is vital for Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press to remain relatively independent of partisan interests," he stressed.

Anil said the takeover of the dailies was not an issue affecting the Chinese community alone but one which is of concern to all Malaysians who cherish freedom of expression.

"Malaysians of all ethnic and religious groups should oppose this deal, which further undermines what's left of our democracy and its fast-disappearing system of checks and balances," he added.

The Chinese language press has been known for its relatively independent reporting in stark contrast to The Star , a solidly 'pro-establishment' English daily, he said.

"Already we hear that top management and senior editors at the affected dailies being asked to leave. They are likely to be replaced by pro-MCA personnel," he said.

'Grossly inappropriate'

Anil also said it is "grossly inappropriate" to argue that PAS has Harakah and the DAP has the Rocket , hence it is all right for MCA to control two mass-circulation Chinese newspapers in addition to a national English daily.

Aside from the fact that parties like MCA and Umno already have their own official party newspapers, "under the existing law, opposition political party publications like Harakah and the Rocket are only allowed to publish twice a month. It is quite unlikely that the Home Ministry will allow opposition parties to publish a daily newspaper," he said.

Furthermore, he explained, under existing restrictions, opposition newspapers can only be sold to party members and cannot be sold publicly - again, quite unlike mass-circulation newspapers.

"Finally, it is extremely difficult for independent publishers to obtain a permit to print," he said.