The sales of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press , two Chinese newspapers taken over by MCA two weeks ago, have witnessed a substantial five-percent drop due to the boycott launched against both dailies.

"The papers' circulation is very much affected, particularly Nanyang which experienced a nearly five-percent cut in sales as the public sentiments have somehow made it the main target of the boycott," said Malaysian Newspaper Vendors' Association president Tan Choon Huat today.

However, Tan told malaysiakini that while official figures have yet to be released by both dailies, newspaper retailers and vendors nationwide had informed him about the estimated drop in circulation since early this month.

He added the circulation for the dailies is worst affected in Johor and Selangor's Klang valley.

"Not only the retail sales at news stands dropped, some of the subscribers even switched to the other Chinese dailies or stopped reading them at all," he said.

According to 1999 figures, China Press had a daily circulation of over 204,000 copies while Nanyang had 178,000, making them the second and third most widely circulated Chinese dailies in 1999.

Meanwhile, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Guang Ming Daily , published by rival media group Pemandangan Sinar, ranked first and fourth with daily sales of approximately 290,000 and 100,000 respectively.

On May 30, MCA acquired Nanyang Press Holdings which publishes both Nanyang and Chinese Press from Hume Industries and Hume Plastics, owned by tycoon Quek Leng Chan, in a controversial RM230 million deal in cash despite strong public objection.

Following this, groups opposing the takeover called on the Chinese community to stop buying or advertising in the two newly MCA-owned papers until the party divests its entire Nanyang stake.

Vendors against boycott

Tan said that his organisation is opposed to the boycott as this has affected the employees of both dailies and newspaper vendors.

"Although we disapprove the Nanyang takeover by any political party or media group which wants to monopolise the market, we do not agree with the boycott either," he said.

"We hope MCA's stake in Nanyang Press will be sold back to Quek or divested to business figures who will continue to articulate the views of the Chinese community at large," he added.

Meanwhile, a source close to the management of Nanyang and China Press said both papers are fully aware of the drop in their circulation although the sales data for the first fortnight of June have yet to be compiled.

"The advertisements have certainly decreased. To say that the boycott has no impact on our sales and advertising revenue is a lie," said the source on condition of anonymity.

Widespread fears

However, the source said that the sales of China Press was not as badly affected as Nanyang .

"Unlike the readers of Nanyang who are well-educated and aware of current issues in this country, people who read China Press are mostly working class, housewives and youngsters who do not care much about politics," the source explained.

"That's why they ( China Press readers) did not really join the boycott campaign," the source added.

According to the source, there is widespread fear among the dailies' employees that the papers may eventually fold up like Tong Bao and Shin Min Daily in early 1990s should the boycott continue and gain more momentum over the next few months.

Tong Bao and Shin Min , bought over by the investment arms of MCA and Umno respectively in late 1980s - Huaren Holdings and Fleet Group - subsequently went out of business as the Chinese community rejected the political party-controlled papers.