De facto law minister Dr Rais Yatim has indicated he would refer laws governing the press such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and the Official Secrets Act (OSA) to the cabinet, according to an editor who met with the minister this morning.

"Even though these laws are not within his purview, he suggested that we meet up with the Deputy Home Affairs Minister, Chor Chee Heung," said Ahmad Lutfi Othman, who was accompanied by two representatives from Kami, an independent media activist group, to meet the minister in a one-hour discussion at Putrajaya (Journalists to meet minister; publisher's office raided, Nov 10).

Lutfi, former editor of the banned Detik and Wasilah, was accompanied by a former editor of Wasilah, Muhammad Nor Abdul Samad, and Surya Junib, an editor of a political magazine.

Detik and Wasilah were banned in March and September respectively and numerous attempts to renew the licences have since failed, Lufti reported.

The journalists said they had already met up with Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently to discuss media issues, including the said legislation.

Lutfi told malaysiakini the meeting with Rais was positive and cordial, and the minister has agreed to take the matter up with the cabinet.

"We, however, are cynical about this matter. Rais did not give a time frame either as to when anything would happen.

"What is more important is that we had lobbied for press freedom and made our concerns known to the government," he said.

'Be fair'

Lutfi raised with Rais the point that journalists in Malaysia are facing enormous pressures from the Home Ministry.

Referring to a raid by 10 enforcement officers of the ministry at his (Lutfi's) office last Friday, Lutfi stated that the action by the raiding party was "aggressive and high-handed".

Claiming that the raid was based on a complaint made by a ministry official in charge of the publications permit processing division that the latest tabloid edited by Lutfi, Islah, did not have a publication permit, Lutfi countered that Islah is a non-regular publication and therefore does not need a permit.

"Another problem that we face is the arbitrary cancellation of our permits.

"We are asking for the Home Ministry to be fair; before you ban anything, you must first give reasons but none was given," Lutfi added.

Meanwhile, social reform group Aliran has issued a statement to condemn the Home Ministry for confiscating 640 copies of Islah during the raid.

"We view this high-handed action on the part of the ministry as an arrogant display of brute power which transgresses on press freedom without any justification whatsoever," said Dr Mustafa K Anuar, Aliran exco member.

"Indeed, an anti-intellectual move such as this is in direct conflict with the expectations of a civilised and a caring society," added Mustafa.

He also accused the Barisan Nasional (BN) government of "making a mockery of freedom and abusing the democratic process".

"It seems that they have all the freedom to do what they like without a licence whereas others must apply for a licence which is promptly denied," he said.