MORE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST Datuk LING: Try to Sell STAR in 1989 But UNSUCCESSFUL; APOLOGY Due for BUYING NANYANG & Caused RM100M Loss
UPDATE: Oct 20 06, from the SUN
Community worried about monopoly of Chinese newspaper industry
Translated by Kong See Hoh
PETALING JAYA (Oct 19, 2006): The Chinese community is worried of the near monopoly of the Chinese newspaper industry by media tycoon Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King following his acquisition of a controlling stake in Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd from Huaren Holdings Sdn Bhd on Tuesday. A number of Chinese community leaders have urged MCA to dispose of the rest of its stake in Nanyang Press to free the two dailies under the group - Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press - of their "party paper"tag.
Below are the comments of some of the Chinese leaders published in Oriental Daily News today:
Five years ago, the MCA harmed the Chinese media by taking over Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd, against the wishes of the Chinese community. This time around, it dealt the Chinese media another blow by selling the controlling stake in the group to another media owner, resulting in a near monopoly in the Chinese newspaper industry.
MCA's disposal of Nanyang shares has vindicated the Chinese community's opposition to the party's takeover of Nanyang through Huaren. KLSCH urges MCA to dispose of the remaining Nanyang shares held by Huaren to non-media group. KLSCH is against any form of political pressure on media independence and against the monopoly of the press.
Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations in
Dong Zong (
YapSin Tian: MCA's sale of the controlling stake in Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd
proves that its takeover of the group with scant regard for the Chinese community's objection years ago was an unwise decision. There should be healthy competition in the industry and not a monopoly which will hinder the development of a free and independent press. Seven Major Clans Association president Datuk Ng Teck Fong:
Give (Tan Sri) Tiong Hiew King a chance before passing judgment. The survival of an enterprise is closely linked to market direction and Chinese groups should look at the matter (Tiong's acquisition of Nanyang Press) from another angle as eventually the readers decide if a newspaper sinks or swims. There is nothing for Chinese groups to worry about. Don't be afraid that your news won't be published. You can always turn to Oriental
Daily or Kwong Wah Yit Poh.
Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said there is nothing wrong with Tiong gaining controlling of Nanyang Press. "What is important is for the owners to allow their newspapers to remain independent and neutral," he said.
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45 NGOs object sale ;Jacqueline-Ann Surin
PETALING JAYA: Forty-five multi-lingual and multi-ethnic civil society organisations yesterday announced their objection to the sale of Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd to media tycoon Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King. "That all top four Chinese dailies are now concentrated in the hand of a party-business alliance is detrimental to press freedom and democratic space in
Tiong secures a controlling stake in Nanyang, publishers of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press, by acquiring a 21.02% from Huaren. "Such development calls for reforms in media laws including the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the introduction of anti-monopoly clauses," the group - comprising among others, human rights organisations, opposition political parties, independent media and journalist groups, and student groups - said. The joint statement was initiated by Writers
"This was after the Chinese press was blamed for the ruling coalition's defeat in the 2000 Lunas by-election," the group said. It said the recent sale of Nanyang would also result in the controlling business interest sidelining certain social issues, or subduing civil society organisations. It called on both the MCA and Tiong to relinquish all their shares in Nanyang Press to non-partisan interests in a transparent manner to increase diversity of ownership in the Malaysian media. It also called for support for Nanyang Press journalists who may now be vulnerable to threats of lay-off and political interference.
Joint Press Statement on 19th October 2006
MCA-Sin Chew's Nanyang Deal underlines need for media laws reform
We, 45 multi-lingual and multiethnic civil society organizations working on diverse issues and political party strongly object to the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)'s sale of 21.02% shares in Nanyang Press to Ezywood, a company owned by Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King. This deal leaves MCA still controlling 23.38% of Nanyang Press and Tiong holding both 44.76% of the Chinese media conglomerate and Nanyang's rival Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd. That all top four Chinese dailies are now concentrated in the hand of a party-business alliance is detrimental to press freedom and democratic space in
The relatively independent and critical journalism of Chinese dailies are well known to Malaysians across linguistic, ethnic and religious lines. Such qualities were seriously compromised when Hong Leong Holdings was forced to sell Nanyang Press to the MCA investment arm, Huaren Holding, in 2001. This was after the Chinese press was blamed for the ruling coalition's defeat in the 2000 Lunas by-election. This takeover sparked widespread protest within the Chinese community, including boycott of the newspapers.
There have been concerns that the Nanyang takeover was the result of collaboration between MCA and the Sin Chew owner. The Sin Chew group sidelined, censored and blacked out news of the takeover. On the day of takeover, the CEO of Sin Chew Daily groups resigned only to be immediately appointed by Huaren Holding as Nanyang Press's Chief Operation Officer (COO). Since then, Tiong gradually acquired interest in Nanyang Press and by March 2006 controlled a total of 23% of stake through subsidiary companies and proxies. The latest development confirms that MCA and Sin Chew are jointly controlling the Chinese print media. Since the takeover, Nanyang Siang Pao suffered a progressive decline in readership and advertising revenue, resulting in a loss of RM 6,309,000 for the Nanyang Press group in the last financial year.
This proves that the takeover was not only politically unpopular, but also economically not feasible. The latest sales are adding insult to injury, posing an ever greater harm to press freedom and to 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 organizations.
We therefore make these demands:
1. That a Parliamentary Select Committee be set up to review all media-related laws to introduce important reforms, among others, the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act, and, introducing in relevant legislations the "dominant position" and "substantial lessening of competition"(SLC) clauses as in the Communications and
Multimedia Act.
2. That both the 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.
3. That the society lends support to the Nanyang Press journalists who
are now more vulnerable than ever to the threats of lay-off and political interference.
Endorsing Groups: 1. Writers
2. Civil Rights Committee,
Hall (CRC-KLSCAH) 3. Youth Section,
5. Jemaah Islah
7. Suara Rakyat
41. New
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This signature campaign is initiated by Writers Alliance Media Independence (WAMI), Civil Rights Committee and Youth Section of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) and Centre for Independent Journalism.Issued by Mr Ser Choon Ing, Chairperson, Civil Rights Committee, KLSCAH Mr Wong Chin Huat, Chairperson, Writers Alliance Media Independence (WAMI)
MD: Acquisition is positive
PETALING JAYA (Oct 19, 2006): Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd managing director Gan Chin Kew said the group looks at the acquisition move positively and welcomes Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King's buying into the group. He said based on Tiong's excellent record in the media industry and is passion for Chinese publications, "we are convinced he will take Nanyang to new heights." He said following the takeover, Nanyang will remain an independent media group and will provide healthy competition for other media
groups to benefit the Chinese community. Gan said there will be no change in the editorial policies of the two dailies and other publications under the group, and promises to give readers the best in information and services.
===end update
ABOVE: Datuk Lim & Datuk Ling in the good old days before the fallout & rivalryOld wounds are opening between Former MCA deputy president Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek and former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik. Datuk Lim alleges that Datuk Ling was not instrumental in the purchase of the STAR Newspaper but it was Datuk Lee San Choon, also a former MCA President. He also demanded an apology from Datuk Ling for the RM200 loss so far in the purchase of Nanyang Siang Pau & China Press newspapers and he was solely responsible and causd losses up to RM100 million.
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Former MCA deputy president Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek: " I would like to put the record straight, that Dr Ling had nothing to do with the effort to acquire The Star by Huaren. It was during the time of former MCA president Tan Sri Lee San Choon.."
Ling Tried To Sell The Star But Was Unsuccessful, Says Lim;
"I would like to put the record straight, that Dr Ling had nothing to do with the effort to acquire The Star by Huaren. It was during the time of former MCA president Tan Sri Lee San Choon that Huaren acquired a majority stake in Star Publications. "In Nov 1989, Dr Ling actually tried to dispose off all of Huaren's 39 per cent stake in The Star to Malaysian Plantation Berhad to try and free Huaren from the bulk of its debts," he told reporters here Thursday.
ABOVE: Datuk Ling claimed credit for purchase of the now successful STAR Publication
Lim said that he was bringing this up now as "Dr Ling had tried to claim credit" for the Star purchase in his press conference on Wednesday by implying that it was during his leadership that the MCA bought the majority stake in the media group. He said that it was because of MCA veteran and central committee (CC) member Datuk Wong Mok Leong's objection that the plan was aborted. "Datuk Wong Mok Leong prevented the disposal. And today, Huaren's stake in The Star is worth more than one billion Ringgit," he said, while showing the minutes of the
Wong who is still in the CC, is its longest serving member.
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Ling Must Apologise For Nanyang Debacle, Says Ah Lek;
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Describing MCA's takeover of two Chinese newspapers under the Nanyang group in 2001 as a debacle, the party's former deputy president wants former president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik to apologise to the Chinese community for it, saying Dr Ling was "solely responsible" for the controversial deal.
Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek told a press conference Thursday that Dr Ling was responsible for bulldozing the acquisition of Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press, owned by Nanyang Press Holdings Bhd, and which the party's investment arm Huaren Holdings Bhd finally disposed of on Tuesday. Lim estimated that Huaren, which was bleeding from the investment, lost at least RM100 million on the deal in the five years. Huaren reduced its stake in Nanyang to 21 per cent from a controlling 42 per cent, selling at RM4.20 per share from RM5.50 when it acquired the stake.
The shares were sold to Ezywood Options Sdn Bhd, which is controlled by
Lim said Dr Ling had continued to push for the deal despite the fact that it received strong protests from Chinese associations while a large number of party members were against it. Lim referred to press reports that MCA had to pay RM50 million just to service the interest on the loan it took to acquire Nanyang. "Based on depreciation per share, we can see the losses, at least or close to RM100 million," he added. And he issued this challenge to his ex-party boss: "If he is gentleman enough, he must come forward to apologise to the Chinese community, to all the party members. He must do it at least, it is still not too late to do so". "Stop blaming other people, especially present leaders. They (the present leaders) were misled into accepting his motive for the deal. He must apologise," Lim repeated. Lim also said that the Chinese community in the country still had not forgiven the MCA for acting against their wishes, even prompting a boycott of Nanyang Siang Pau. But he praised the present MCA leadership for taking the bold decision to dispose of the controlling stake in order to cut losses that the party had to incur.
"This is my personal view. When you inherit a sick vehicle and to avoid it being disastrous, I congratulate the leadership for disposing it. Without the Chinese community's support, the newspaper would be dying," he said. Earlier, former MCA Vice-President Datuk Chua Jui Meng said he welcomed the sale of the controlling stake as "its was right move to stop the bleeding and further harm to the party". Chua was among the MCA leaders who were openly against the takeover of the newspapers and aligned himself with the so-called "Team B" headed by Lim. "It's a very painful decision for the party but it is a necessary surgical move," said the former Health Minister," who lost in his bid for the MCA presidency last year against Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting. "In 2001, we already knew that they would sell it to Tan Sri Tiong. We knew this was going to happen. It's just matter of time.
And time has revealed all and it has taken five painful years for us to know what transpired," he told reporters after officiating a beauty salon at Taman Tun Dr Ismail here. Chua said he hoped Tiong would keep his promise not interfere in the editorial decision and would let the professionals to manage Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press. "If not, the people will act and move again. Many people will watch the development of the media being controlled by Tiong," he added. Tiong, dubbed the "Rupert Murdoch of
He also owns Ming Pao, a Chinese daily in
posted by multidimid at 12:23 PM
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