The Chinese media have been asked to resolve issues sensitive to the community directly with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's newly-appointed Chinese aides instead of highlighting them in their newspapers.

Reliable sources told malaysiakini that the prime minister's political secretary Matthias Chang met with top editors of Sin Chew Jit Poh and China Press last Tuesday and Friday respectively.

Chang was accompanied by Mahathir's new press secretary Cheng Kee Chien, who was former deputy chief editor of another Chinese daily, Nanyang Siang Pau .

At the meeting, Chang told the key editorial staff that the playing up of certain issues would not bring any benefit to the Chinese community.

"He strongly hinted that we should go directly to them to settle some of the disputes raised by the Chinese community, and that we need not write about such issues widely," said a source.

The source added that the impression they had from the meetings was that the Chinese media need not be monitored only by MCA politicians especially Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung, widely regarded as the Chinese dailies' de facto editor-in-chief.

Chang, 51, formerly a lawyer, was described as "cautious" and "evasive" at the meetings. However, he did tell the editors that he would remain in his post as the PM's political secretary for no more than two years.

Mahathir's policies defended

It is learnt that at the meetings, Chang tried to defend Mahathir's views and policies on various issues such as the closing of the controversial Damansara Chinese school.

A handful of students and their parents are protesting against the relocation plan and decided to stay put in their old school.

However, they were not allow to attend classes in their old school compound and instead are continuing their studies in a makeshift classroom in a neighbourhood temple.

"Chang said the old Damansara School was like a Proton Wira, while the new school was a Proton Perdana. When people received their Perdana, they would not insist on keeping their Wira," said the source.

At the meeting, Chang also suggested to the editors that he could arrange a regular monthly meeting between them and Mahathir.

"He advised the editors to do some 'homework' before such meetings with the prime minister as the latter can only spend about an hour with them," the source added.

Meeting with 'Nanyang'

It is believed that the motive behind the appointments of Chang and Cheng - Mahathir's first Chinese aides in his 20 years in power - is to bridge the widening gap between the Chinese Malaysian and the government.

According to another source, Chang is expected to meet the editors and the staff of another Chinese daily, Nanyang Siang Pau , which is now owned by MCA's investment arm Huaren Holdings in a controversial takeover.

"Unlike the meetings with the top editors of Sin Chew and China Press , Chang has requested to meet all the staff of Nanyang in their office tomorrow," said the source.