Reading between the lines, it is easy to comprehend the rationale for the takeover of the two Chinese dailies under Nanyang Press by Huaren Holdings, an MCA investment arm.

The Malays have deserted Umno. In the next election in 2004, the votes of the Chinese will be critical to the survival of Barisan Nasional.

MCA will use the Chinese media to discredit PAS with regard to its intention of setting up an Islamic state. This it hopes will retain the Chinese votes in 35 Umno-held seats where the Malay constituents are not an absolute majority.

I predict it will set the course for a truly two-party system in Malaysia.

What an exciting flowering of democracy in Southeast Asia.