We are sad to learn that Tan Sri Gan Cheng Weng, who led the Committee against MCA's Takeover of Nanyang Press, called for a boycott on the dailies under Nanyang, Nanyang Siang Pau and China press.

We, the journalists in China Press, give full coverage of the activities of Tan Sri Gan as a leader in Chinese community. We understand his worries about Nanyang Press falling into the hands of MCA. However, he should not call for any boycott against the two papers.

We hope the Tan Sri would bear in mind that we have more than 2,000 staff within the Nanyang group. We have our family to support, we have problems in finding another job elsewhere, we need our bonuses to celebrate the Chinese New Year and to pay for our living expenses.

We hope the Tan Sri will agree with us that we will be the ones to suffer from the boycott. We believe he also knows that any damages, i.e. drop in circulation or advertisement revenue, will be difficult to overcome. Even if MCA decides not to buy Nanyang Press, it will take a long, long time to recover the market share. Which means we have to suffer for a longer duration than most would think.

As for Tan Sri Lim Guan Teik who said if MCA opts out, he will team up with other Chinese businessmen to buy that block of shares, how sure is he to say that you will not interfere with the editorial policy of the papers. Don't tell me that we don't have to publish more stories on Unico, Muda Holdings, and the activities in which he and his fellow shareholders are involved.

We beg Tan Sri Lim to target the real culprits; do not put sand into our rice bowls.

We also appeal to our former group managing director and general manager that we need his help and ask that he stops attacking the papers. He knows very well how hard it is to build up a paper.

Please, everyone who is attacking the Nanyang Press Holdings, give us a chance to earn a decent living.