Malaysians should not be unduly worried that the entry of the overseas edition of the People's Daily, the party organ of the Chinese Communist Party, into the country is an attempt to promote communism.

"This is because in the 21st Century, harping on ideology is outdated," said Sin Chew Daily chief leader writer Loh Jeng Wung

"Perhaps in the 70s and 80s, ideology was an important matter, but not anymore," he said when asked to comment on the imminent publication of the People's Daily in the country.

"It is also important for those in the media industry to keep in mind that different views and ideas should always be heard," he added.

Echoing Loh's sentiments, Oriental Daily News news director Ng Ngen Fah deemed that the overseas version of the daily should not be selling propaganda, otherwise it will not be supported by readers abroad.

"I believe the daily's overseas version is meant to cater for those who would like to understand the economic development and laws in China, for example. If they sell ideology, then nobody will be interested to read it," he said.

Malaysiakini reported on Monday that the government has granted a publication and printing license to the overseas edition of the People's Daily .

The edition is currently published in some 80 countries including the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, France and Japan.

A report in Sin Chew Daily today revealed that its printing company will be the printers of the People's Daily .

It also disclosed that the eight-page broadsheet newspaper, priced at RM1.80, will hit the streets on Feb 1. Five thousand copies will be printed daily for a start.

The contents of the daily will include governmental news, economic, international and sports, Chinese property services and learning Chinese.

No market effect

Meanwhile, both Loh and Ng felt that the People's Daily will not affect the local Chinese newspapers market.

They said since the emphasis on content is different, there will be no direct impact on the market.

"I think local Chinese newspapers and People's Daily will have their own market, neither one can replace another," said Ng.

He said readers eager for more news about China will not turn down the local Chinese papers which they rely on as a source of local information.

Loh, however, said that the market niche the People's Daily can eventually capture is still "hard to predict".

"The reading habit of local readers are so complicated. Some of them do not only read one newspaper," he said, adding that the People's Daily should be seen as a 'friendly competitor '.

The major local Chinese newspapers are Sin Chew Daily , Guang Ming Daily , Nanyang Siang Pau , China Press and Oriental Daily News .

Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily are owned by Chinese media tycoon Tiong Hiew King's Sin Chew Media Corporation. Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press are owned by the MCA while Oriental Daily News is owned by the Sibu-based KTS Group.