The government will not take legal action against two United States news magazines for publishing what it claimed were false and negative reports about the country, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Heung said today.

There is no point in taking action against these magazines. Malaysians will understand more than just to get information from foreign magazines, said Chor, adding that action by the government would not provide an effective solution.

The government will go all out to make sure that foreign magazines do not smear the name of Malaysia, said Chor during a press conference after a visit to the Kajang Prison this morning.

However, he did not elaborate on the measures that would be taken by the government.

Two US-based news magazines Secret Anwar Deal? which claimed that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had offered a conciliatory deal to his now jailed former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, during a secret hour-long car ride outside Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir has subsequently denied meeting Anwar in any circumstances.

Police truck torched

Following this, Newsweek , in its Feb 4 edition, cited a secret Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report as saying that Malaysia was a primary operational launchpad for the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The two issues of these journals were held back by Malaysian censors.

Last weeks edition of Newsweek has also been banned for an image said to be that of Prophet Mohammad. Islam specifically prohibits imagery of the Prophet.

De facto Law Minister Rais Yatim had said that the government may sue Newsweek over its Feb 4 report.

On a separate matter, Chor said police will be forced to take stern action against those who continue to violate the governments ban on political ceramah .

The police have been professional and patient. They have used logic and explanations to impress upon organisations, said Chor.

He said the ban was necessary as ceramah which go out of control could create a breach of peace in communities.

Indoor ceramah

The decision to enforce the ban which was introduced last July was in response to an incident in Baling, Kedah on Sunday. At a PAS ceramah there, a police truck was set on fire and policemen attacked with stones.

Opposition parties PAS and Keadilan have said that they will continue to hold ceramah .

Chor said this decision by the two opposition parties was a fine example of the samseng or confrontational attitude of these organisations and their supporters.

However, Terengganu police chief Othman Talib was quoted by The Star today as saying that political parties will be allowed to hold ceramah without a police permit if they are held indoors.

However, he warned organisers that if their ceramah was seditious, police could detain those involved and disperse the gathering.