PKR organ   Suara Keadilan  is attempting to buy time to explain itself, albeit  risking losing its publications permit by not replying to show-cause letters by 5pm today.

Chief editor Dzulkarnain Taib said this is because they have no copies of the letters letters, issued by the Home Ministry in January, February and April respectively .

 

“We have to know the content of the letters. The ministry would not give us copies when we asked for it yesterday during a meeting with top Home Ministry officials,” he said, adding that the letters cannot be traced by his staff.

suara keadilan report on felda bankrupt 220610 He said that thus far, Suara Keadilan is only in possession of one show-cause letter, which demanded an explanation over its front page report in the June 21-29 edition which reported that the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is bankrupt.

He added that the weekly would comply with conditions set by the ministry at yesterday's meeting, but did not elaborate.

Contacted after the 5pm deadline, Dzulkarnain said that Suara Keadilan lawyers have faxed a request to the ministry seeking copies of the ‘missing’ show-cause letters.

Permit expiring tomorrow

He added that the publisher will send a reply to the fourth letter - over the Felda issue - tomorrow, which is incidentally the expiry date of Suara Keadilan ’s current publishing permit.

“We are drafting the reply, saying that it is fair comment as a political party organ, and that people have the right to access of information.

“I have spoken to (Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam) to explain the situation and he said he will respond after looking at our letter,” he said.

dzulkarnain taib Dzulkarnain ( right ) added that copies of Suara Keadilan requested by the Home Ministry were submitted today.

According to Bernama , two show-cause letters were sent in January and April over the publisher's failure to send eight copies of each edition to the ministry.

Another letter in February was in relation to three reports on Umno, Petronas, Perbadanan Nasional Bhd and healthcare institutions.

Home Ministry receives fax

After yesterday's meeting, Mahmood had said Suara Keadilan was told to explain its failure to reply to the letters.

“Among the actions that we can take if they fail to observe (our) directives is to suspend the paper or cancel its permit,” he told reporters at his office.

Late this evening, Bernama reports that Mahmood confirmed that he received a fax from Suara Keadilan at 4.57pm today, but did not divulge details. 

""I have yet to look at the letter but a meeting will be held to evaluate the contents of the letter and the reply received," he said.

53 warning letters issued to newspapers