Following the recent retraction of a full-page column known for its critical opinions, MCA-controlled daily Nanyang Siang Pau dropped its vocal youth section as well, citing "new editorial policy" as the reason.

Introduced in 1999 and reduced to two pages from its original four in October this year, the section known as Youth Mission was published every Wednesday in the daily's supplement.

Early this month, a popular Sunday column called Nanyang Saloon was retracted without any reason furnished.

Nanyang Saloon was known to be vocal on issues affecting national interests and the Chinese community such as reformasi and mother tongue education.

Meanwhile, the Youth Mission that was dropped this week, focused on human rights, press freedom, social problems and campus politics.

Among the local activists, intellectuals and politicians who have appeared in Youth Mission are PAS Youth chief Mahfuz Omar, Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, DAP Youth chief Teng Chang Khim, and media activist Ahmad Lutfi Othman.

Targetted at young readers, primarily varsity students, the weekly section also featured columns by student leaders of all races.

Final interview

The last person who graced the section's page was Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Ong Tee Keat ( photo ).

In the Nov 7 interview, the minister spoke on ways to encourage the Chinese community to take part more actively in sports.

But Ong is not just any minister. He is the controversial MCA Youth chief who protested against the takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau by the party's investment arm Huaren Holdings in May.

The RM230 million takeover of Nanyang Siang Pau and its sister newspaper China Press had sparked a public outcry and caused a split within MCA.

Since the acquisition, Ong has been at loggerheads with party president Dr Ling Liong Sik over several issues, including the Youth's August annual general meeting which was punctuated by fistfights and the sacking of two Ling loyalists.

When contacted, Nanyang Siang Pau chief feature writer Ding Lee Leong said the notice for the termination of Youth Mission came from the management on the day when Ong's interview appeared. There was, however, no written notice.

"The management said the decision was made in line with our new editorial policy but did not explain what it is about," said Ding who had been in charge of the section since its inception.

New section

Starting this week, Youth Mission has been replaced with a new section called Vogue which focuses on fashion and lifestyle.

Nanyang Siang Pau 's editor-in-chief Hoong Soon Kean could not be reached for comment.

Since MCA acquired the dailies, the Chinese community have feared that the editorial independence of the daily would be compromised.

Eight senior editorial staff were sacked within 24 hours of the acquisition and were replaced with pro-Ling appointees.

In recent months, numerous leading Chinese organisations claimed they were 'blacked out' by the dailies. These bodies had openly opposed the government and MCA over several issues in the past.

The dailies' journalists had also received warning letters from the new management not to "tarnish the reputation of the newspaper" by divulging information about the internal editorial process to the press.