http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/ dowjones/story/0,2619,609474704-GEN,00.html

03 August 2001

Bomb Scare,Fracas Disrupt Malaysia Chinese Party Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)--A bomb scare, a chair-throwing fracas and a stinking smell disrupted a conference Friday of the youth wing of Malaysia's largest ethnic Chinese party, a junior member of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's governing coalition.

The upheaval indicated that wounds remain deep from an internal rift and heavy outside criticism for the Malaysian Chinese Association's recent takeover of a newspaper group, which many members feared would alienate voters who perceive it as controlling the news.

A bomb threat was phoned in to the conference venue shortly after the meeting opened, the national news agency Bernama reported. Police found no bomb.

After the morning tea break, a stinking smell enveloped the conference room. Ong Tee Keat, the youth wing leader, was quoted by Bernama as saying that it was "too early to tell" if the odor resulted from sabotage.

Police returned later after some delegates threw chairs and punches in anger at a speaker.

Members have been divided over the leadership's decision for the party's investment arm, Huaren, to buy a 72.3% stake in the Nanyang group, which publishes two Chinese-language newspapers.

Mahathir, who has ruled Malaysia for 20 years, said that newspapers propagated anti-government views, particularly on issues of concern to the large ethnic Chinese minority.

The party already owns Malaysia's largest English-language daily, The Star. Most major newspapers in the country are owned by government parties or their business allies.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires 03-08-01