The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) are deeply concerned that the recent acquisition of majority shareholding by tycoon Vincent Tan in theSun signals the end of relative independent space provided by the free paper. CIJ and WAMI echo public sentiment that the return of the newspaper to the hands of Tan, long associated with the former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, is a political decision timed to coincide with the forthcoming 12th general elections.
In some ways, theSun had never really been free of Tan’s grip, as he had maintained majority stake through Nexnews Bhd, which published theSun and The Edge since early 2002. Tan was chairman of the board and in which his partner Tong Kooi Ong was deputy chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under the leadership of Tong and editor in chief Ho Kay Tat, the newspaper gained a reputation for pushing the boundaries through its editorials and columns with its writers Jacquelin Ann Surin, R. Nadeswaran and Terence Fernandez winning awards from the Society of Publishers Asia (SOPA) in 2007. Ironically, the same year also saw the Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin accusing theSun twice for being pro-opposition and giving “too much space to the youths”. Sources have said that the paper had been targeted at several occasions by the Ministry of Internal Security and the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister himself.
The change of ownership is reminiscent of the takeover of the Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press in 2001 by ruling party MCA and sparks concern that it is a politically motivated move to curb the editorial independence of theSun. The timing of the change in shareholding structure to coincide with preparations for a general elections early this year fuels speculation that there is pressure for the paper to toe the line.
Six years ago in January 2002, Tan and Tong led Nexnews to take control of the Sun and The Edge, a deal that was negotiated two years earlier but failed to materialise. The financial restructuring in 2002 was preceeded by the publication of the controversial Christmas story “Plot to kill the PM” in 2001, which led to the suspension of four editors and journalist responsible for the story. The Sun union organised a picket at the year end in support of the members and also to protest the non-compliance by the company to pay staff the annual bonus. In January, over 40 staff were retrenched in what four of the ex-staff claim was targeted because of the pickets. Tan and Tong secured their deal three weeks after the retrenchment and announced their free-paper model in April 2002. In the latest deal announced by Bursa Malaysia on 25 Jan, Berjaya Corp, the flagship corporation of Vincent Tan bought off a 37.5 percent stake from Tong giving the former nearly 55 percent in Nexnews.
According to speculation, it is also expected that Vincent Tan is negotiating the sale of 30 percent of Nexnews stake to The Star. Taken in the broader context of ownership trends in the last decade, the move effectively concentrates the major media in the hands of those closely linked to the Barisan Nasional parties.
Since 2005, Media Prima has secured control over three other TV stations - ntv7, Ch8 and Ch9 - in addition to TV3 and the New Straits Times Press it already owned. Sin Chew Media, owned by timber tycoon Tiong Hiew King acquired a controlling stake in Nanyang Press, a deal in the making since 2006, making him the owner of the four largest national Chinese newspapers - Sin Chew, Guang Ming, Nanyang and China Press. In early 2007, a merger was planned between Media Prima and the UMNO owned Utusan Group, publisher of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia. If succeeded, the
entity will be the largest media group in Malaysia, with English daily New Straits Times, a total of three Malay national dailies, three television channels and two radio channels under its stable. It was however scrapped following protest within UMNO.
These exercises reveals an underlying government-business partnership in the efforts to be the sole controller of information dissemination and public space. The latest concentration of ownership in theSun also points to this direction in the case The Star is made a partner in Nexnews. The apparent similarity between the fate of theSun and Nanyang marks the further squeeze on independent media.
The public should know the extent to which these deals are made with political interests in mind and when they can enjoy a more liberal and open media environment. As of now, the only signal being sent to the discerning public is that editorial independence and diversity of views are not welcomed, instead they are threats to society. The combined dominance of the state through legislations and ownership will gravely affect freedom of speech and opinion, and the profession of journalism.
CIJ and WAMI hope that this new business deal will not jeopardise the editorial decisions of theSun and allow it the space it deserves as a platform for critical and plural views. We are confident that the readers of theSun will monitor the newspaper and continue to support its good work, but that they will be critical if they are not given their dose of truth, fair and ethically presented.
The Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ) aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek, and impart information.
by
Gayathry Venkiteswaran
Executive Director, CIJ
and
Wong Chin Huat
Chairman, WAMI
For more information, please contact Wai Fong at 03 40230772
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