Two high-ranking editors of Chinese-language daily China Press have been removed from their positions, but the evening edition of the newspaper escaped suspension over an erroneous report on the infamous 'nude ear-squats' issue.

Informed sources with the daily said the management had briefed the staff today that editor-in-chief Chong Choong Nam and executive editor-in-chief Wang Zhao Ping would be transferred.

Chong will be appointed as personal assistant to Nanyang Press Holdings chairperson Wong See Wah, who is a former MCA politician. Nanyang Press is the owner of the newspaper.

Meanwhile, Wang will be retained at the daily as a 'special project manager'. There was no information on replacements for the duo at the daily.

The sources also said the management did not state the reason for their removal, but the decision is widely believed to be linked to the controversy over the nude 'ear-squats' video recording.

On Dec 19, the daily had received a show-cause letter over the matter from the government.

A notice on the editorial reshuffle will be published in the daily soon, the sources added.

Chong, when contacted this afternoon, refused to confirm his termination.

"I am yet to be officially informed, I am still waiting for an arrangement," he said.

When asked whether the "arrangement" referred to the removal, he responded: "It's not clear yet. I was told to take leave and I have been on leave for a few days, I don't know what is going on in the office."

He also refused to say on how long he would be on leave.

Show-cause letter

The ministry's show-cause letter is believed to be linked to the newspaper's Nov 23 evening edition, which was the first to report the existence of the video clip purportedly showing a Chinese national being forced by a policewoman to do ear-squats in the nude.

The next day, opposition parliamentarian Teresa Kok showed the video clip in Parliament. This was allegedly recorded by a peeping Tom police officer with a mobile phone at a restricted area in the Petaling Jaya police station.

The issue caused outrage nationwide. As the scandal unfolded, Home Minister Azmi Khalid visited China on a six-day fence-mending mission.

An independent commission of inquiry was later set up to probe the matter and the nude woman was found to be a local Malay. Fingers were then pointed at the media for the error in identifying the victim.

Speculation then began that the China Press evening edition would be suspended should it fail to take action to please the authorities, such as a change in senior editorial staff.

The newspaper, which produces both a morning and evening edition, has the second highest circulation among the five major Chinese dailies.

The newspaper, along with sister daily Nanyang Siang Pau, was taken over by Chinese-based political party MCA in a strongly resisted move four years ago.