Chinese language newspaper China Press could face suspension for being the first to ran a news report on the infamous nude ear-squat video clip.

The government has issued a show-cause letter to the daily for the publication of the scandal, which has outraged many Malaysians and caused a diplomatic tiff with China when it erroneously reported that the woman victim was a Chinese national.

China Press editor-in-chief Chong Choong Nam, when contacted by malaysiakini this afternoon, confirmed that the MCA-controlled daily had received a letter from the Internal Security Ministry dated Dec 19 demanding the newspaper to explain the publication of the report.

However, Chong refused to confirm widespread speculations that the daily's evening edition could be suspended for two weeks over the matter.

He was also unable to confirm whether the daily had responded to the ministry's letter, which has given today as the deadline.

"I haven't receive any instruction (regarding the suspension). What I can confirm is that we have received a show-cause letter over the video-clip issue. My superior is handling the matter," said Chong.

Linked to Nov 23 evening edition

The ministry's show-cause letter is believed to be linked to the Nov 23 evening edition of China Press in which the newspaper was the first to report on the existence of a video clip purportedly showing a Chinese national being forced by a policewoman to do ear-squats in the nude.

The day after the China Press' report, opposition parliamentarian Teresa Kok showed the video clip - which was allegedly recorded by a peeping Tom police officer with a mobile phone - in the Parliament.

As the scandal unfolded, Home Minister Azmi Khalid visited China on a six-day fence-mending mission.

An independent commission of inquiry was later set up to probe the matter and the nude woman was found to be a local Malay , not a Chinese national as widely speculated.

Meanwhile, an Internal Security Ministry's official told malaysiakini that the letter threatening China Press with suspension had been issued but declined to elaborate.

The ministry's publication control division head Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi refused to comment when contacted.

Both Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye and owner Nanyang Press Holdings chairperson Wong See Wah could not be reached for comment this afternoon.

China Press , which produces both a morning and evening edition, has the second highest circulation among the five major Chinese dailies in the country.

The newspaper, along with sister daily Nanyang Siang Pau , were taken over by Chinese-based political party MCA in a controversial move four years ago.

Axed because of Umno Youth?

In an unrelated development, informed sources told malaysiakini that private television station 8TV's Mandarin talkshow '8 Corners' might be axed by the end of next month after it conducted an interview with malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais.

In the interview with the popular 30-minute weekly programme, the former student activist shared his views on the recent campus elections, which was allegedly marred by serious irregularities.

According to a source, the activist's appearance on the programme has apparently ruffled the feathers of some Umno Youth leaders.

The source added that the programme's final edition is expected to be on Jan 29, and it will be replaced by a business programme in March next year.

'8 Corners' host Goh Wee Ping, when contacted, said the management had yet to decide the fate of the programme but expressed hope that it would not be taken off air.

The television station is owned by media conglomerate, Media Prima Bhd, a company that said to have close ties with the ruling party Umno.