A boycott campaign was launched today by a committee comprising four influential Chinese organisations against the two Chinese dailies which were acquired recently by political party MCA in a highly controversial deal.

Committee of Chinese Organisations Against the Political Party's Takeover of Nanyang Press said that the boycott will end only when MCA bows to the wishes of the community and withdraws out of the two dailies.

The committee is made up of the United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong), United Chinese School Committee Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), Selangor Chinese Assembly and the Federation of Malaysian Chinese Schools Alumni Associations.

Nanyang Press, which publishes dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , was taken over by MCA through its investment arm Huaren Holdings for RM230 million cash last Thursday.

The deal had generated a volley of protest from within the Chinese community as well as other groups who fear that the takeover would stifle press freedom and that the dailies would be transformed into propaganda tools of the ruling government.

MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik had promised that the party would not interfere with the editorial of the two dailies but this did not douse the blaze of criticism against the deal.

'Adverse effects'

Spokesperson for the committee Ngan Ching Wen, who is also the chairperson of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, said that MCA's takeover of the dailies was "obviously disastrous and unacceptable".

Ngan who was speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur said, "the takeover could lead to the erosion of efforts towards a civil society and cause adverse effects on the promotion of Chinese culture and Chinese education".

When asked to comment on the negative effects of the boycott, especially on the dailies' employees, Ngan said, "It may be unfair to the staff and we regret that, but we had very little choice.

"Traditionally Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , as non-partisan media, have played a vital role to articulate the views of the Chinese community, whether in support or against the government," he explained.

When asked if the boycott would benefit the dailies' rivals, Ngan replied, "Just because you don't buy them, it doesn't mean you can't read them.

"Maybe five or six people can share a copy of the newspaper," he said, adding, "After all, we are living in an information society and it is hard to expect people not to read newspapers at all."

However, Ngan did not deny the possibility that the boycott could encompass Sin Chew Jit Poh and its sister paper Guang Ming Daily as well.

"The committee would review its actions from time to time in order to find the best way to achieve its purpose," he said.

Roadshow

Ngan added the committee would organise a roadshow on the boycott that will cover several states including Perak, Johor and Selangor.

"We will brief people in those states as required by the local Chinese chambers of commerce. We want to let MCA know that the management buyout is very much disapproved by our community," he stressed.

Also present at the press conference were representatives from various other Chinese organisations.

Despite strong public objection, Hume Industries and Hume Plastics, owned by tycoon Quek Leng Chan, sold their stake in Nanyang Press to MCA.

Following this, a number of top management officers and key editors of Nanyang were replaced with a new administrative and editorial line-up from its long-time rival newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh which had been rumoured to be eyeing a stake in the deal as well.

However, Sin Chew dismissed the rumours and claimed that the staff movements were "personal decisions".

Last Friday, MCA president Ling Liong Sik said that Huaren would eventually divest half of its stake in Nanyang Press to "a friendly and experienced partner", rekindling speculations of Sin Chew 's involvement.