Malaysian party pushing press takeover to woo votes

By Eileen Ng

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's largest Chinese party aims to secure the community's crucial votes at the next election by pushing through a controversial takeover of two independent newspapers, analysts said Thursday.

One said the move could backfire on the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). Others believe it is too early to say despite the anger stoked by the deal.

The MCA's decision to take over Nanyang Press Holdings has sparked bitter opposition from various Chinese pressure groups, businessmen and even traditional government supporters.

But MCA leaders, after a heated three-hour meeting late Wednesday, voted to go ahead.

The party's investment arm Huaren Holdings was due late Thursday to finalize the acquisition of a 72 percent stake in Nanyang Press, which publishes Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press.

The two papers have a combined circulation of 400,000.

The MCA -- the second biggest party in the ruling coalition -- already owns the country's largest English daily, The Star.

Analysts viewed the deal as a bid to shore up Chinese support for the ruling National Front coalition before the next election, which must be called by 2004.

Chinese, the second largest community after Malays, make up about a quarter of the 22 million population. MCA president Ling Liong Sik has promised not to interfere in editorial matters.

In the November 1999 polls the National Front relied on Chinese and Indian support to retain its two-thirds majority after many Malays turned to the opposition.

Chinese votes have become more crucial than ever, said P. Ramasamy, political science lecturer at the National University of Malaysia.

This was evident from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's plans to hire a Chinese special assistant to get closer to the community, Ramasamy said.

He said recent issues have stoked rumblings within the community, such as the failure of top Chinese students to enter state universities because 55 percent of places are reserved for Malays under a quota system.

Last August the premier also angered many Chinese with a strong attack on the Chinese pressure group Suqiu, which had urged that affirmative action programs be extended to all those in need and not just Malays.

Mahathir said its approach was akin to that of communist terrorists.

"The whole idea of the (newspaper) takeover is basically to determine the agenda for the Chinese society and to make sure they vote en bloc for the National Front in the next general election," Ramasamy told AFP.

"It is a deliberate and calculated attempt to tame the Chinese community to accept the coalition's hegemonic politics."

But Ramasamy said the move could backfire on the MCA.

"There may be a terrible political backlash against the party, a backlash that could cost the National Front its crucial votes to win the next election."

Teoh Kian Hoon, a researcher with the Center for Malaysian Chinese studies, said the MCA was likely subtly to turn the two dailies into partisan publications.

"Chinese dailies play a key role in socializing and influencing the community on political issues. Once you control a newspaper, you set the agenda and influence the way the community thinks," he said.

"Whether the antagonism against the MCA will translate into a loss of support is still unclear at the moment. A lot of things can still happen in the next two to three years," he added.

Abdul Razak Baginda, executive director of the Malaysian Strategic Research Center, agreed it was too early to gauge the consequences but said Nanyang's circulation in coming months would provide a clue.

He said he was not convinced the MCA would change Nanyang's independent line, if only because of the effect on sales.