A Chinese lobby group today said that the boycott of Chinese dailies will continue until MCA gives up its controlling stake in Nanyang Press and not resort to any scheme of transferring its control of the media company to "hidden partners".

The Committee of Chinese Organisations Against Political Party Takeover of Nanyang Press also added that it opposed partisan control of the media. It said that the organisation is also against the media being monopolised by a single business group.

The committee, formed last week to oppose the takeover of Nanyang with the support of more than 200 Chinese organisations, claimed this was the opinion expressed by the majority of the Chinese community.

"Media controlled by political parties is impossible to remain independent in reporting news and public opinions unfavourable to the parties. Even if it tries to remain the same for the present, the unavoidable changes will take place sooner or later," said the committee.

It added that the public will continue to boycott the two dailies published by Nanyang Press, Nanyang Siang Pau and

China Press as a show of protest against the takeover by the second biggest political party in the ruling coalition.

Selling stake

Last week, MCA bought Nanyang Press for RM230 million in cash through the party's investment arm Huaren Holdings. Huaren also holds a controlling stake in the leading English daily The Star .

The issue has become a thorn in the Chinese community as there are fears that the dailies would face the same fate as Thung Pau , a newspaper in the early 1990s which collapsed after MCA took over operations.

Another newly launched group, the Committee Against the Takeover of Nanyang Press which is made up of a coalition of writers and activists, has also expressed its concerns over the takeover.

On Thursday, MCA president Dr Ling Ling Sik Ling said that the party would sell its majority stake in Nanyang if there were good offers. He called on those interested to send in their proposals within 10 days.

Previous lessons

Meanwhile, Gerakan, a coalition partner of MCA, continued to apply pressure on its ally over the Nanyang takeover.

Gerakan youth wing executive secretary Nicholas Lee said the Chinese community was objecting strongly against the takeover as they feared that the two dailies would be run like The Star .

"MCA's control over The Star has proven to be very biased and very unprofessional."

He said that the top-selling English daily is capable of "undermining even partners in the Barisan Nasional family".

"Gerakan believe that it was the interference of MCA top leadership that had caused The Star to be run in such an unprofessional manner, and it is the poor track record of this paper that had robbed the Chinese community's confidence on the media takeover by MCA."

Both MCA and Gerakan compete within the ruling coalition for support from the Chinese community.

Stop fanning racial sentiments

Johor Gerakan chief Lim Hoi Kuan meanwhile warned MCA central committee member Chor Chee Heung against fanning racial sentiments to justify the takeover.

Lim said that Chor, who is also the deputy home minister, was reported as saying that MCA had to proceed with the deal to protect Nanyang from "falling into the hands of other races".

"We feel that as a minister, he should be responsible to maintain racial integration in the country but he, without any hesitation, is relying on racial feelings to find a reason for the takeover," said Lim.

Lim said that Chor must resign as minister if he failed to show evidence within three days that there were other parties from different races who were interested in buying Nanyang.