I refer to the letter Tribune ban: New leader , same policy and other letters pertaining to the banning of the Sarawak Tribune . Reading between the lines, I would wager that a new company and newspaper will be registered to hire the existing staff and honour existing agreements and contracts. Closure of a newspaper is a drastic step for any minister to take.

I am sure there is probably an agreed view that as good management, a 'correct" message needs to be sent otherwise they would be perceived as not in control of the situation. However, this does not mean that the newspaper business cannot be continued under a different vehicle - a different

name and a different corporation.

I do not think, it is in the nature of the PM to be dictatorial and repressive in his "management", even though there may be some who would try and influence him to be so. My bet is that a "win-win" situation is in the cards but this hand has yet to be shown. The quiet confidence and lack of raucous protests would seem to fortify that argument.