No action has been taken against journalists who report accurately even though their reports are critical of the government, said the Home Ministry in Parliament today.

In a written reply to DAP Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Melaka, Kerk Kim Hock the ministry said that press freedom is guaranteed in the country.

"To prove this point, any reporter is free to write any story in any newspaper as long as the story is true and not twisted to serve any individual's or group's interest," said the ministry's statement.

"The government has not taken action against any reporter who writes accurately in any newspaper even though the report is critical of the government," the ministry added.

The Home Ministry was responding to Kerk's question as to whether the government is planning to table laws that would prevent political parties from controlling any newspaper in view of the controversy over the purchase of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press by the MCA.

Good reason

Many considered the purchase of the Chinese dailies by MCA's investment arm Huaren Holdings to be a blow to the freedom of press.

After the deal was inked, several organisations, Chinese guilds, readers, writers and political parties launched a boycott of the two newspapers.

MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik said the purchase of the two dailies was 'a normal business deal' and that MCA would not influence or interfere with the dailies' editorial policy.

The Home Ministry's statement said that the government will only allow a political party to own a newspaper if the latter had good reasons to do so.

"They must also be able to satisfy the requirements of the Home Ministry," it said.

"Therefore, the government is not planning to table any law to prevent political parties from taking control of any newspaper," the ministry added.