Suara Keadilan and Harakah banned over ‘sensational and wrong’ articles

(The Star) PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry has slapped a three-month suspension on Harakah and Suara Keadilan for repeatedly publishing stories that were “wrong, sensational and sensitive in nature”.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, who confirmed this, said the suspension of the PAS and PKR newsletters was with immediate effect.

He said his ministry, which is responsible for monitoring the media, was unhappy with the type of stories being played up by the two publications of late.

“We have no problem if the articles in Harakah and Suara Keadilan are to promote their political ideologies.

“But what cannot be tolerated is when the stories confuse and cause anger among the people. We also do not tolerate wrong and sensational reporting. This is detrimental in a multi-racial society like Malaysia,” he told The Star yesterday.

With the suspension, both publications can only resume at the end of June, missing out on a number of crucial political events, including the three by-elections on April 7.

Syed Hamid said the ministry, when deciding on the suspension, also felt the stories in Harakah and Suara Keadilan had misinformed the public on certain issues and incidents.

He said the ministry had the power to revoke the licences of the publications but did not want to take such drastic action as it believed in the importance of the freedom of the press.

“We have no problem or objection in allowing the two publications to operate. But they should be careful not to misreport and must exercise responsible reporting,” he added.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali said the party would defy the ban and continue to publish Suara Keadilan.