I refer to the malaysiakini report Behind the Makkal Osai's suspension...

In February last year, two newspapers were suspended for publishing caricatures of Prophet Muhammad which had appeared in Danish newspapers. The Sarawak Tribune was suspended indefinitely for reproducing the caricature while the Guang Ming daily was suspended for two weeks for carrying a picture of a man reading a Danish paper with the caricature visible.

One would have thought that the people's reaction and the government's response to those incidents would have been a sobering reminder to all to be mindful and sensitive of another religion. Alas, it would seem that lessons have yet to be learnt.

Now we have the Tamil newspaper Makkal Osai insulting the Catholics by printing last Tuesday a picture of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand while on the other hand Jesus is seen holding a can of drink, probably a beer, and with a caption saying: 'If someone repents for his mistake, then heaven awaits him'.

Non-Christians ought to be reminded that for the Catholics, the Sacred Heart is one of the most revered pictures and has deep religious symbolism. Thus, it is sacrilegious for Makkal Osai - or for the matter anyone - to reduce the picture of Sacred Heart or Jesus Christ to an object of ridicule. The manner Jesus Christ was portrayed was an act calculated to injure the feelings of Catholics in particular and Christians in general.

Makkal Osai the next day printed a front-page apology after an uproar from the Christian community. Its general manager SM Periasamy, in defence, claims that a member of its newspaper graphics department had downloaded the picture from the Internet to go with the daily inspirational quote section. This answer is unacceptable.

In fact, prudence dictates that we should be careful with information obtained from the Internet and should verify the accuracy of the information obtained. Surely, the chief editor, editor, general manager or even the proofreaders must have known that such picture of Jesus Christ is offensive and could have rejected it. Didn't anyone do a final check and verification before going to press?

The government has been quick to react by suspending Makkal Osai for one month. The paper ought to consider itself very lucky at the punishment meted out. MIC Youth urged the government to take stern action against Makkal Osai hoping that it may suffer the same fate as the Sarawak Tribune.

MIC Youth's call comes at a surprise since one hardly finds MIC Youth protesting or demonstrating against the demolishment of Hindu temples, making police reports when temples are demolished or even handing over memorandums when temples are earmarked for demolishment. And here they are seeking justice for Christians.

It is a known fact that Makkal Osai, in recent months, has been strident in their criticism of MIC president S Samy Vellu. With the Maika AGM coming up soon and particularly the issue of the proposed sale of Capital Insurance, Makkal Osai's suspension must come as a relief to some in the MIC.

Coming back to the issue, let this incident be a sobering reminder and a final warning to all that in multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia, it is incumbent for all to refrain from causing any act which could injure the feelings and the sensitivities of another.