The four Chinese dailies controlled by timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King have blacked out the programme highlights for television station ntv7.

The reason for this is the station's popular Edisi Siasat Mandarin programme. On Dec 16, the programme focused on Tiong's monopoly of Chinese dailies and the anti-monopoly movement.

The tycoon, who initially owned Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily , took control of two more dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press last October.

On Dec 30, Sin Chew Daily and Guang Ming Daily began to black out the ntv7 programme highlights. Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press followed suit on Jan 6.

According to sources, Sin Chew's senior management reached the decision at a meeting on Dec 29 to black out the programme highlights as a 'warning' to ntv7.

The programme highlights for other TV stations are published as usual by the four dailies.

Boycott?

When contacted, Sin Chew's senior management remained coy about the issue.

Asked if there is a boycott on ntv7, one of them replied: "We never said that word (boycott)."

"If there is an event by the station, we will cover it as usual. Regarding the programme highlights, we will choose only the best for publication," he said.

Another source claimed that when a ntv7 public relations officer checked with Sin Chew on the black out, the person was told that it was related to the Edisi Siasat Mandarin programme.

According to the Edisi Siasat programme, the producer had requested a written interview with Sin Chew managing director Lim Chen Chuan and Nanyang managing director Gan Chin Kew but this was turned down.

Moreover, observers said the programme was not lopsided as some of those interviewed supported Tiong's acquisition of the two dailies last year.

When contacted by malaysiakini , Mandarin executive editor Tan Boon Kooi refused to comment on the issue.