MCA's sale of its controlling stake in the ailing Nanyang Press Holdings to media baron Tiong Hiew King is a great setback for press freedom in the country, 45 concerned groups said in a joint statement today.

"The latest acquisition is adding insult to injury, posing an ever greater harm to press freedom and the interest of journalists and readers.

"It will not only help increase news control by the Internal Security Ministry, but may also allow the controlling business interest to sideline certain social issues, and even to subdue civil society organisations," the groups said.

The statement was initiated by the Writers Alliance Media Independence, Civil Rights Committee and Youth section of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, and Centre for Independent Journalism.

Among the 45 groups which endorsed the call included non-governmental organisations, opposition parties and student groups.

Online newspapers malaysiakini and merdekareview are also signatories to the joint statement.

Anti-monopoly clauses

The groups said with Tiong's acquisition, all the top four Chinese dailies have now fallen into the hands of a "party-business alliance" and this will be detrimental to press freedom and democratic space in Malaysia.

Tiong currently owns Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd, which publishes two top dailies - Sin Chew Daily and Guangming Daily , while Nanyang Press Holdings publishes Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press .

"Such development calls for reforms in media laws including the repeal of Printing Presses and Publications Act and the introduction of anti-monopoly clauses," the groups added.

Pointing out concerns that the Nanyang takeover was the result of collaboration between the MCA and the Sin Chew boss back in 2001, the groups argued the latest sale "confirmed the MCA and Sin Chew are jointly controlling the Chinese print media".

They demand for:

A parliamentary select committee to be set up to review all media-related laws to introduce important reforms and introducing in relevant legislation the 'dominant position' and 'substantial lessening of competition' clauses as in the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Both MCA and Tiong relinquish all their shares in the Nanyang Press to non-partisan interests, in a transparent manner that will increase diversity of ownership in the Malaysian media.

The society to lend support to Nanyang Press journalists who are now more vulnerable than ever to the threats of lay-off and political interference.

On Tuesday, MCA announced it has decided to sell off 21.02 percent of its controlling 44.4 percent stake in Nanyang Press Holdings to Ezywood, a company controlled by Tiong, a Sarawakian timber tycoon.

The acquisition increased Tiong's stake in Nanyang from 23.64 percent to 44.76 percent.

Nanyang Press Holdings was bought over by MCA investment arm Huaren Holdings in 2001 amid a strong protests by party members and media activists.