The Committee Against the Takeover of Nanyang Press by MCA (CAT)'s call for the boycott of several Malaysian dailies - because they cannot act independently in the interest of the public - is both ridiculous and irresponsible.

Malaysians should be reminded that The Star was the only paper that reported fairly with regard to the recent ISA arrests - an issue that even the independent Nanyang Siang Pau ignored.

To suggest that there is actual journalistic independence in Nanyang is equally silly. Its present owners are corporate figures with close links to the government and economic interests. When it comes to the crunch - i.e. criticism of non-Chinese politicians - this paper is as mute as all our other dailies.

CAT is creating the impression that Nanyang is an independent newspaper when this cannot possibly exist in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world. All mass media have limitations.

The censorship in the Malay and English dailies is more stringent because Malay and English news reach everyone in Malaysia. The Chinese dailies are only read by the Chinese-educated and like their Tamil counterparts, are less observed by the ruling elite.

To boycott The Star because it is owned by Huaren Holdings is both unfair and irresponsible: Unfair because going by the rationale, the same action should be imposed on all the Malay, English and Chinese newspapers; and irresponsible because livelihoods will be affected for no apparent purpose.

Even if CAT succeeded in its aim and these dailies are closed down, what little independence we have left will be at the complete mercy of the likes of the owners of other existing newspapers.

Ask yourselves why it is easier to target The Star and not the New Straits Times? Why attack the more moderate paper?

The Chinese community should instead examine itself and ponder why we are at each other's throats!