There is no indication that any amendment will be made to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) during the March sitting of Parliament, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said today.

Asked whether he was aware of any plan to table amendments to this law during the coming sitting, the de facto deputy minister of law and parliamentary affairs said: "Not at the moment."

NONE However, the Sandakan parliamentarian deflected further queries, saying questions on any changes to the PPPA should be directed to the home ministry.

Liew ( right ) was speaking after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Kuala Lumpur Regional Arbitration Centre and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the federal capital.

"Still in the very early stage'

azlan Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam told national news agency Bernama on Tuesday that the ministry intended to extend the scope of the PPPA to online publications.

Mahmood also said the government planned to table the amendments in the Dewan Rakyat in March.

However, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters yesterday that discussions on the amendment were still in the "very early" stage.

News of the move to include online publications under the PPPA has received strong objections from members of the public, media practitioners and politicians from both BN and Pakatan Rakyat.

The PPPA has been blamed for keeping the print media on a tight leash, as the home ministry-issued publication permits have to be renewed annually.

The government has, under the Multimedia Super Corridor Bill of Guarantees, given its pledge that it will not censor the Internet.