Pakatan Harapan no longer needs to "fear" Utusan Malaysia now that it has taken Putrajaya, a former Umno minister said today.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was because the Umno-owned newspaper now gives Harapan more space as the new government, while remaining fair to BN as the opposition.

"They are now in power. There is no longer any reason to fear Utusan," the Selangor Umno chief told reporters when met while on the campaign trail for BN's Sungai Kandis by-election candidate, Lokman Noor Adam.

By issuing such instructions, Ismail believes, the government is also indirectly restricting freedom of the press.

He was asked to comment on a leaked memo stating that the Education Ministry had instructed all of its subscriptions to Utusan Malaysia to be halted immediately.

Ismail claimed the move is a sign that Pakatan Harapan is still acting like the opposition.

Read more: Ministry instructs schools, varsities to ditch Utusan Malaysia

While Harapan has consistently been against the Umno-owned paper, he said, their attitude should now change after taking federal power.

"Any reports not favourable to them, they will view it (the media) as an enemy. Stop buying the papers and all that," he said.

"If they are truly an open government, give opportunity for everyone to read everything... Utusan, Berita Harian, The Star.

"Let them read and make up their own minds," said the Bera MP.

Earlier today, it was reported that the leaked July 18 memo was sent by the special adviser to the education minister Wan Saiful Wan Jan to Education Ministry secretary-general Mohd Ghazali Abas.

The authenticity of the memo was later confirmed by a ministry official.

In Parliament, Education Minister Maszlee Malik told reporters in parliament that the move would save money as the news could be read online.

However, Maszlee said he was not aware of the memo, and would check with his special adviser.

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