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Alert

Authorities harass opposition publication over alleged transgressions of licence

(SEAPA/IFEX) - A major opposition publication in Malaysia was warned that "strict action" would be taken against it should it fail to abide by its permit conditions, according to Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a SEAPA partner in Malaysia.

In a 15 February 2007 letter, the Internal Security Ministry alleged that the 16 to 28 February edition of "Harakah", a publication of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, violates conditions specified in its publication permit.

The letter did not give any details of the purported transgression, beyond the use of Jawi script (modified Arabic alphabet) on one page. It said "Harakah" was only allowed to publish in Malay and English.

However, that objection is flawed, CIJ pointed out, as the text is Malay even if its form is Jawi.

A ministry spokesperson claimed that "Harakah" has published a number of "speculative" articles prejudicial to "national stability", but declined to name them.

According to CIJ, the "Harakah" edition in question has a front page story entitled "The prime minister is weakening", coverage of protests against the controversial hikes of highway toll prices and articles linking Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak with the grisly murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaaribuu in October 2006.

"The lack of clarity over how the paper had transgressed its licence indicates a desire to intimidate . . . " CIJ said in a 7 March press release ( http://www.cijmalaysia.org/display_story.asp?ID=481 ) voicing the organisation's concern at yet another instance of government interference in media independence.

The Internal Security Ministry, headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has the power to suspend a publication's licence, temporarily or indefinitely, to fine a publication and to restrict its circulation.

All publications in Malaysia require a licence, as mandated by the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. The permits are to be renewed annually, and decisions to award, amend or suspend them cannot be challenged in court.

"Harakah" is no stranger to government harassment, especially after its rise in popularity following the 1998 political crisis which saw the most serious challenge to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's stronghold on the country. In December 1999, "Harakah" was ordered to stop sales at public newsstands after it was found to have been selling to non-members (publications of political parties can only be sold to members). In March 2000, the government reduced the biweekly publication to once a fortnight, a limit imposed even upon its online edition (see IFEX alerts of 25 October 2006, 16 February 2005, 29 and 3 March, 21 and 13 January 2000, and others).