opinion The outward manifestation of the attempt by the MCA to bring under its control the two Chinese dailies - Nanyang Siang Pau and the China Press - is a deeper indication of the nature and manner of the Chinese section of the Malaysian civil society.

Like the Malay community, the Chinese community is witnessing a contestation of ideas as what kind of political representation would best suit it in the years to come. Thus, whoever sets the agenda and manufactures consent in the Chinese civil society, would ultimately control and influence the way the society would think and act.

While the MCA and to a lesser extent Gerakan purports to provide official representation for the community, however, the material and the ideational basis of the Chinese community is always problematic to those Chinese parties constituted within the ruling coalition.

The need to exercise ownership and control over the two Chinese dailies by the MCA is basically an attempt by the party backed by Umno to ensure that the majority of the Chinese would vote for the coalition in the next general elections.

By controlling these newspapers, there is a belief, that the MCA like its partner Umno would be able to steer the Chinese community in the direction that it might ultimately be loyal to the BN.

Crucial role

There are other implications of this proposed takeover. First, there is a growing feeling in the country especially among Umno leaders that without the support of the Chinese community and to a lesser extent Indians, Barisan Nasional (BN) might not be returned to power in the next general elections.

Second, given the fact that Umno finds it impossible to win back lost Malay support, the support of the Chinese have become more crucial than ever. In this respect, there are number of urgent things to be done before the next general elections.

Thus, the need to strengthen the support of the Chinese for the BN has meant among others, not only the appointment of Chinese advisors, but also for the MCA to do some things that might arrest the decline of Chinese support.

Since Chinese newspapers play a crucial role in socialising and influencing the Chinese community on the nature of politics in the country and what type of politics will be best suited to protect Chinese interests, the MCA has been forced to take cognizance of the important role played by the Chinese press.

More than this, goaded by Umno, it has taken the initiative that what better way is there to influence the Chinese community other than owning and controlling several publications.

Internal dimension

Third, there is an internal dimension as well; the contest and conflict between two sections of the Chinese within the MCA, the Chinese educated and English educated, have spilled over. Thus, the attempt by the English educated to takeover the newspapers, is also an indication of the on-going conflict between the two factions as to which will provide effective leadership for the Chinese community.

Unlike the formidable control exercised by Umno and the MIC over their vernacular publications, the attempt by the MCA to hegemonise the Chinese civil society by controlling the newspapers may not be that easy a task.

First, the Chinese community, given its material and ideational independence from the ruling parties, has always had an healthy respect for independently operated newspapers.

While the MCA and Gerakan provide the official representation in the formal sense, the cultural interests of the community are often safeguarded by other independent organisations not directly affiliated with the official parties.

Thus, there has always been a realisation within the Chinese circles, that the independence of Chinese cultural and media organisations were rather crucial for the well-being of the Chinese community.

Political backlash

Second, even if the MCA takes over the two Chinese newspapers, there is going to be a terrible political backlash against the party, a backlash that would cost the BN its crucial votes to win the next general elections.

As it is, the takeover by MCA has not generated any major consensus; sections of the Chinese community in general and particular MCA leaders are themselves opposed to this ownership.

Third, this takeover is not a simple economic exercise as suggested by the MCA president, it is a deliberate and calculated attempt to tame the Chinese community to accept the hegemonic politics of the BN.

There are lots of things that the MCA can do to better the position of the non-Malays and the Chinese in particular.

For instance, improving the universities' admission formula for non-bumiputra students, the gradual removal of the quota system in education, employment of non-Malays in the civil service and others can contribute to the positive development of the non-Malay communities in the country. But unfortunately, the MCA be narrow-minded as it is, seeks only to further repress the Chinese community for its own selfish political interests.

Political 'clowns'

However, as the party itself understands well, the present move to own and control the newspapers will have disastrous consequences for the party in a few years.

The political 'clowns' within the ruling coalition must understand that Malaysians in general seek press freedom not for its own sake, but to enable them to voice their views, opinions, ideas and others so that a more democratic society can emerge in the long run.

But if the newspapers and other aspects of the media come to be controlled by those in power, then one can only imagine what the social and political consequences would be.

We definitely do not want a few political parties especially those in the ruling coalition to set the agenda for the people.

P RAMASAMY is a professor of political economy at the Political Science Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and has academic interests in Malaysian politics and labour. He has written quite extensively and is currently focusing on conflict management in Sri Lanka.