Will the Dec 28 edition of the Herald-The Catholic Weekly be the last? This is the question on the mind of Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor of the weekly newsletter.

the herald With the annual publishing permit expiring at month’s end, the Home Ministry has yet to indicate if this will be renewed.

"Our last publication will be on Dec 28, just after Christmas, and I am worried it could be our last," Lawrence said when contacted.

"I cannot understand all the fuss as the Herald is only being sold in churches and not to the public. We have a limited (print run that) specifically caters to Roman Catholics."

The newsletter’s Bahasa Malaysia version caters for indigenous people in Sabah and Sarawak, but the weekly is also published in English, Chinese and Tamil. It has a weekly circulation of 14,000 and an estimated readership of 50,000.

Herald had run into difficulties with the authorities late last year over the use of the word ‘Allah’ in referring to ‘God’ in Bahasa Malaysia. It is currently embroiled in a civil suit against the government over the order.

herald judicial review decision 050508 father lawrence andrew porres royan Lawrence (left in photo) said the newsletter covers political and current affairs and that the ministry should not impose restrictions or stop the publication.

"We ran issues on the election to encourage our congregation to vote. Similarly, we ran an issue on the Internal Security Act. These are of public interest and not only highlighted by us, but the media as well," he said.

"Why are they taking action against us? Why are they keeping it to the very last minute (to tell us) whether or not the permit will be renewed? I hope they will inform us early."

On the progress of the court case, Lawrence said it is expected to resume in February to hear the applications of the interveners.

‘Thousands of applications’

The Home Ministry, when contacted today, said the application for renewal of the Herald permit is still being processed.

Publications Control and Al-Quran Texts Unit senior officer Che Din Yusof said: "The ministry is reviewing thousands of publishing permits around this time, and we have to do it quickly.

“ Herald will know whether it is successful in its application before its permit expires.”

Wire agency Reuters quoted Deputy Home Minister Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as saying: "Until Dec 31, we are not going to announce anything. There is plenty of time till them. Let them wait."