Chinese dailies - often perceived as more independent than their other vernacular cousins - will have a little more wriggle room to report on the aftermath of the hike in toll charges announced yesterday.

According to an industry source, four Chinese dailies owned by media tycoon Tiong Hiew King have formulated guidelines on reporting the expected public backlash against the toll hikes.

"We are discouraged from obtaining opinions from the man on the street, nor can we come up with opinion pieces on the matter," said the source.

"We are to pretend that the whole toll hike didn't happen at all," added the source.

And should there be any public demonstrations against the toll hike, the four dailies are expected to play down the story. Photographs of such demonstrations would be strictly forbidden, said the source.

The source said such guidelines were formulated immediately after four cabinet ministers, led by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, held a hush-hush meeting with print and broadcast editors on Dec 12.

Oriental stands tall

During the meeting, the editors were told to 'play down' the expected public outcry from the toll hikes, approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.

True enough, neither Nanyang Siang Pau nor Sin Chew Daily today published opinion pieces on the toll hikes. Instead, both papers carried excerpts of a 'Frequently Asked Question' sheet on the toll hikes by the Works Ministry that was distributed to journalists yesterday.

The two dailies, along with China Press and Guangming Daily, are owned by Tiong.

In contrast, fledgling rival Oriental Daily carried two commentaries on the toll hike, one of which was titled, 'Why should the people foot the bill?'.

"But, the root question is not solved. The subsidies by the government are expenditure that do not bring tangible returns. Were the conditions of the concession agreement fair in the first place?" read the other commentary piece titled, 'The questions on toll charges'.

Singing a different tune altogether was English daily New Straits Times - its lead paragraph said motorists were 'spared' from having to pay even more in toll charges.

"Klang Valley residents have been spared a much higher toll hike from Jan 1 through the cushioning effect of RM2.589 billion in government compensation to concessionaires," read the opening sentence of the paper's front-page story.

Rationalising the hike

On page seven of the newspaper, it carried a 'Q&A with S Samy Vellu', even though the questions were actually lifted directly from the 'Frequently Asked Questions' sheet distributed yesterday.

Top-selling English daily the Star's editorial rationalised that the government had 'little option' other than to raise the toll charges.

"The principle of burden sharing is being applied here and certainly we have to accept that as we improve the network of highways, the financial cost will increase," said the Star.

Its front-page news on the toll hike kicked off with the following words: "The government is sharing the burden of the public by subsidising the toll increase for five expressways.

Meanwhile, Umno-controlled Malay daily Utusan Melaysia said the government's subsidies on toll charges have made it more affordable.

"The concept of burden sharing that is practiced by the government allows us all to enjoy facilities that are fairly priced," said the newspaper in its editorial today.