Monday 23 March 2009

The Ongoing Suppression of Free Speech and Freedom of the Press in Malaysia

Malaysian government suspends their political opponents PKR and PAS's newsletters

The fractured and somewhat unstable BN / UMNO government of Malaysia must be shit scared of the opposition so they conveniently try yet another way to silence them.

The Malaysia government has suspended the two main opposition party newsletters for a period of three months, PKR’s newsletter 'Suara Keadilan' and PAS’s newsletter 'Harakah' , effective immediately, home affairs minister Syed Hamid Albar confirmed this on Monday 23rd March 2009.

"Its true we suspended the two newsletters from today. We do not wish to restrict press freedom in this country but they were still publishing untrue stories after they were given warnings," Hamid was reported to have said.

He alleged that the two newsletters had run stories that questioned the position of the Rulers and a number of other stories that were sensational and likely to confuse people in a multi-racial country.

Due to this suspension, both newsletter can only again be published and distributed at the end of June, missing a number of key political events and developments including the three by-elections on 7th April 2009.

Meanwhile, Tian Chua, PKR's information chief, said that 'Suara Keadilan' received notice of the suspension on Monday evening.

"However, no reason was stated," he said.

Suara Keadilan editor Zulkiflee Anwar Al-Haq also reportedly said the suspension notice signed by an officer on behalf of the secretary-general of the Home Ministry, was faxed to his office in Brickfields at 5pm on Monday 23rd March 2009

He also said no reason was stated for the suspension which took effect immediately.

"This is purely a political decision. We are becoming popular and with the new regime moving into UMNO, they are worried about alternative news sources." he said, adding the on-line version of 'Suara Keadilan' will however continue publishing news.


He added that '
Harakah' had also suffered the same fate.

'Harakah' chief editor Lufti Othman was reported as being not reachable for comment.


To see what the BBC has reported click HERE


So folks catch up with all the news, that UMNO / BN deems unfit to be printed, on-line at:

Malaysia Today,

Malaysiakini,

Suara Keadilan on-line and

Harakah on-line


Click their respective links to read them.


Emitte lucem et veritatem


Send out light and truth

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