The warning the Home Ministry issued against "certain parties" it did not name for criticising its indefinite  suspension of news weekly The Heat is regrettable, the Bar Council says.

The action also reflects the ministry’s lack of appreciation of the principle of an accountable government and the role of an independent press, Bar Council president Christopher Leong said.

Questioning and commenting on the actions of the executive, Leong ( right ) pointed out, is part and parcel of a democracy.

"The actions or statements of other parties, in particular the news media, would not have any tarnishing effect on the image of the government if the actions of the government pass scrutiny.

"It is therefore not the actions of other parties or the press, but that of the government that determine the standing, reputation and image of the government," he added.

Leong said this in reference to the suspension of The Heat , and the ministry’s warning yesterday to "certain parties" against tarnishing its image by overstating its case against the news weekly.

Although the ministry did not name names, its statement, obviously referring to the media, said  “the actions of certain parties that have been continuously tarnishing the government following the suspension of The Heat ’s publishing permit” are being viewed seriously.

Ministry should have investigated first

The Bar also said the ministry should have investigated The Heat and waited for its reply before deciding on suspending the news weekly.

Leong said there should be no reasonable cause for suspending The Heat if the issue was related to any change in ownership, as opposed to the publication of articles being a threat to public order or national security.

"The authorities could and should have queried and investigated the apparent change in ownership, without either the ‘indefinite’ or ‘temporary’ suspension of The Heat ," he said.

"The question of non-notification of change of ownership per se is an administrative matter as opposed to a substantive question of publications that may be against national security."

He reminded the government that news and media companies, apart from playing an essential function in society, are also business entities and employers.

Hence, Leong said, decisions and actions by the Home Ministry can and will adversely affect, among other things, the revenue of the company and livelihood of its employees.

"The powers and discretion of the authorities under the Printing Presses and Publications Act must therefore be exercised reasonably and in proportional response to the issues in question."