Nanyang Siang Pau's former chief leader writer has backtracked on his decision to return to the controversial Chinese daily because the company has failed to honour its part of the deal.

Veteran journalist Teoh Kian Hoon told malaysiakini that since Nanyang Press - which publishes Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press - was taken over by MCA in May, its general manager Lee Peck Hoo had offered him a choice of high-ranking posts including editor-in-chief and deputy chief editor.

However, Teoh rejected the proposition after meeting with Lee and Nanyang group assistant chief operation officer Ang Soon Kean.

Teoh is highly regarded in the Chinese media for his critical and frank opinion pieces, and insightful interviews with a number of political leaders, including Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail - Keadilan president and wife of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

According to Teoh, Nanyang on July 15 offered him the post of chief leader writer in charge of opinions and features, which he accepted.

His decision shocked many who opposed the takeover, since he was one of the 90 writers who led the boycott of Nanyang and China Press, and later formed the Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami) to campaign for media independence.

While many Chinese intellectuals and writers had voiced their disappointment over Teoh's decision to return to Nanyang, Teoh said he was emotionally compelled to do so due to his long attachment to the paper.

However, last Monday, he discovered that Nanyang has appointed him chief leader writer but without the responsibility over opinions and features as agreed upon earlier.

Teoh said that this meant that the opinions and features section of the newspaper would not be under his control.

"To a certain extent, they have not honoured their part of the deal," he said.

No return

On Sunday, Teoh released a three-point statement that he would not return to Nanyang.

At the same time, he also withdrew from Wami, adding that he did not want his name to appear in actions that would "hurt Nanyang".

Teoh also said the boycott campaign should not be restricted to just Nanyang and China Press.

"Why shouldn't they widen the scope of the boycott to New Straits Times, The Star and Utusan Malaysia?" he asked, mentioning the three major dailies that are directly or indirectly owned by parties in the ruling front.

"I worked in Nanyang for 25 years and when I led the movement against the takeover of Nanyang by MCA, not many people knew that I was under great pressure; I was censured for being 'ungrateful'," said Teoh.

Teoh is currently a research fellow in the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies based in Kuala Lumpur.