The action taken against two top editors of a Chinese daily over an erroneous report was not racially motivated, said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

He said the action was a 'reminder' to newspapers to be more responsible.

He added that the press should publish correct news in terms of fact instead of writing reports which were untrue to the extent that they affected national interest.

"The action taken had nothing to do with racial sentiments, what I can say is that the press must always be careful in making news reports, in other words, if something is not right in terms of fact and reality, don't make an assumption as though it is correct.

"Worse still, when the assumption brings adverse impact to the country's national interest," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

On Thursday, China Press announced that its editor-in-chief Chong Choong Nam and executive chief editor Wang Siew Teng would accept full responsibility and resign with immediate effect over an error in a report regarding the controversial nude ear-squat video clip .

In its Nov 23 evening edition, the daily had reported that the woman in the clip was a Chinese national but this was later proved to be untrue.

"We all know that the news had spread widely to China and the other countries to the extent that it had brought negative effects to the national tourism industry, whereas it is the government's intention to welcome tourists from China with open arms, tourists from China are most welcome to visit our country," said Najib.

"Any negative stories which are untrue will affect our efforts to continue to encourage tourists from China to come here," he added.

No restriction on press freedom

In a related development, Deputy Information Minister Donald Lim Siang Chai said asking the media to accept responsibility for its reports does not mean that the government was curtailing press freedom.

He said the mass media in Malaysia must be more responsible in disseminating news and should safeguard the sensitivity and harmony of the various races.

"From the reporter to the editor, there must be responsibility to ensure that any report is true," he said, adding that the incident should serve as a lesson to others.

However, certain quarters criticised the government for interfering in the operations of the newspaper and 'forcing' the resignations. Concerned groups have also been holding candlelight vigils outside the China Press office in Kuala Lumpur.

China Press and sister publication Nanyang Siang Pau are owned by MCA via its investment arm Huaren Holdings.

Yesterday, opposition leaders submitted a memorandum to the Internal Security Ministry expressing concern over they described as an attempt by the government to ensure that the media stays in line.

Parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang also questioned why China Press was targeted when other newspapers which committed the same error were let off the hook.