Online media have been barred from covering the ruling party's annual conference, a day after the government suspended two party organs for three months.

The opposition has said it fears a media crackdown is under way, after action was taken against the two political newsletters for "inciting hatred" against the government.

An official from Umno confirmed the party had rejected several applications from online media for access to the five-day meeting, which begin tonight, but did not give an exact number.

husainay hashim husaini hashim umno Five news websites told AFP that they had been denied access passes, including prominent news portals Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider .

Umno executive secretary Husainay Hashim said the decision was made was because their coverage of previous Umno meetings was "not friendly".

"From our experience with Malaysiakini for instance, they are not too friendly with us, they are not helping us. You have to report based on facts, not distorting the story," he told AFP .

"We just don't give them the passes, it is not a ban. They can get information from elsewhere."

‘You make party look sickening'

Party secretary Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor gave a clearer explanation later during a press conference by party president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"They are banned for irresponsible reporting. If your report responsibly, we will allow you to come.

Day 1 - 59th UMNO general assembly "The way you report about our leaders (and) our party is 'sickening'," he added.

Earlier Abdullah appeared to be in the dark when he was asked about the ‘ban' on the Internet media.

He then asked Tengku Adnan for an explanation.

The press conference was held at Putra World Trade Centre after Abdullah had attended a pre-council meeting with the delegates.

Malaysiakini journalists were not allowed to attend the press conference.

Could signal a wider clampdown

Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan criticised the decision, saying it showed a lack of respect for press freedom and that it could signal a wider clampdown when incoming premier Najib Abdul Razak takes over later this month.

Day 1 - 59th UMNO general assembly "Our job is to report news as professional journalists, the issue of being friendly with a certain party does not come into the picture," he said.

"(The ban) will be read as a sign that it is the new order under Najib and if you put together some of the developments over the past few weeks, there is fear there could be further repression when he takes over as PM," Gan said.

The mainstream media are largely government-linked, and the opposition relies on its own press, as well as Internet news sites and blogs, to convey its message to the public.

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