A press freedom group has expressed concern over news reports that Chinese language daily China Press could face suspension following a government's show-cause letter in relation to the publication of a report on the nude ear-squat scandal.

"A free media is a vital part of ensuring accountability, transparency and fostering the growth of a corruption-free government. To this end, CIJ calls on the prime minister to repeal the licencing condition of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984," said the Kuala Lumpur-based Centre for Independent Journalism in a statement today.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also the internal security minister, who holds the power to issue, revoke or change the terms of printing licences at will. No judicial review is allowed for the minister's decision.

China Press , which was the first daily to ran a news report on the nude ear-squat scandal, has erroneously reported that the woman victim was a Chinese national. The scandal has outraged Malaysians and caused a diplomatic flap with China.

Evening edition

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

The morning 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 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 had been speculated.

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.

Meanwhile, owner Nanyang Press Holdings chairperson Wong See Wah - a former top MCA politician - when contacted this morning refused to divulge the current status of the newspaper.

Sources said that the daily's evening edition could be suspended for two weeks over the matter.