PKR papers seized as party has no print permit, says Home Ministry

(Malay Mail Online) – Over 300 copies of PKR’s Suara Keadilan were confiscated as the party does not have the necessary permits to print the newspaper, said the Home Ministry.

This was conveyed to Malay Mail Online by the ministry’s publications and Quranic text division head, Hashimah Nik Jaafar, in a brief text message.

The issue was confirmed by the party’s communications chief, Fahmi Fadzil, who complained that their application for a print permit remains in limbo despite what is touted to be more relaxed rules following amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act

In a separate statement, Fahmi condemned the measure undertaken by the ministry stressing that it is aimed at stifling freedom of speech.

He also urged Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to disclose the status of the party’s application for a printing and publishing permit last year and appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to repeal the PPPA.

“Although the Act was amended in 2012, the amendments do not suffice as the Act is still draconian and undemocratic,” said Fahmi.

In a parliamentary reply dated July 11 last year, Ahmad Zahid had said that Suara Keadilan’s application for a renewal of its publication permit was not being considered by the ministry as the tabloid had been reckless in its reporting.

This stems from an earlier disagreement that Suara Keadilan did not fulfil the ministry’s request for clarification pertaining several articles it had published, including a controversial piece titled “Felda Bankrap”, contrary to PKR’s insistence that the party had explained the contents of the problematic articles.

The home minister had claimed that the mouthpiece had published a confidential letter, thus violating the Official Secrets Act and added copies of the Suara Keadilan were being seized, at that point, as it no longer has a valid permit.

Last week, over 300 copies of the party’s mouthpiece were seized during raids on vendors in Alor Setar, Kuala Kedah, Jitra, Pendang and Kepala Batas.

The latest edition front-paged articles on Selangor’s protracted leadership crisis and the federal government’s shaky position on the repeal of the Sedition Act.

The Home Ministry controls the printing permits that all local publications must secure before they are allowed to operate.