Distribution of the Far Eastern Economic Review is back on schedule but that of another foreign news publication, Asiaweek , is still being held up following two months of continuous delays in approval for both by the Home Affairs Ministry.

Officials at Magazine Services Sdn Bhd, the local distributor for the publications, said today the latest issue of the Review , dated April 26, is out while Asiaweek is still awaiting distribution of its April 20 and 27 issues.

It was learnt that the Review managing editor Michael Vatikioitis was in Kuala Lumpur recently to speak with Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about the delays.

Contacted by malaysiakini today, Review 's publisher Phillip Revzin said he was delighted that things were back to normal.

"The government never gave us a reason why the distribution was delayed and it never gave us a reason why they let it resume. Nevertheless, we are delighted," he said.

Asked if he or anyone from the Review had met Abdullah about the delays, he said, "No."

"They only time we saw him was when we had an interview with him," Revzin said, adding that the Review had always followed the Home Affairs Ministry's rules and guidelines on publications.

Asiaweek executive editor Richard Hornik could not be contacted for comment.

The magazine's managing editor Zoher Abdool Carim told malaysiakini last month that a letter had been sent to the Home Ministry asking for an explanation but no reply had been forthcoming ([#1] No reply to Asiaweek's query on delay [/#], March 28).

The government, on the other hand, gave contradictory statements, with Information Minister Khalil Yaakob claiming that there was no reason for the delays and deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin saying that the delays were probably due to negative reports on Malaysia.

'Idiot'

Asiaweek first raised Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ire when it published an unflattering photo of him in its Jan 26 issue, which he said attempted to portray him as an 'idiot'.

Then its March 2 issue featured two articles on Malaysia; one containing an allegation that the Moro fighters in the Philippines are supported by the Malaysian government while the other cited Mahathir and Putrajaya as an example of how some rulers try to perpetuate their legacies by constructing monumental buildings and cities.

The Review , in its March 1 issue, had an article postulating that Umno could be losing its grip on a half-century of political dominance.

Copies of both publications usually hit the newsstands six days before their cover dates. The approval letters for the sale of the foreign publications are usually given at the beginning of each week after a few copies are submitted for vetting at the end of the week before.

Time's mistake

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has recalled the April 16 issue of Time magazine which contains a thumbnail artwork of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) meeting the angel Gabriel to receive revelations from God. ([#1] Time magazine banned for insulting Islam: report[/#] , April 22)

According to Abdullah, who is also deputy prime minister, the censors at the Home Affairs Ministry had at first missed the picture but realised it later.

The artwork is part of the illustrations for an article entitled 'Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' by David Van Biema.

Graphic representations of the Prophet Mohammad (SAW) is prohibited in Islam.

The same issue also contained an article entitled 'Policing the police', which criticised Malaysian police for its recent handling of public assemblies and alleged that it was facing a public image problem.

The Review is owned by international publishers Dow Jones while Asiaweek and Time magazine are owned by Time Incorporated.