updated version

Internet daily malaysiakini was barred from attending Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's press conference today, the second such incident in a week.

Abdullah, who officiated the national civilisational dialogue in Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, this morning, was to meet with the media after presenting his keynote speech.

As journalists were being ushered into a meeting room for the deputy premier's press conference, his press secretary Kamarulzaman Zainal stopped the malaysiakini journalist at the door.

Kamarulzaman then ordered a security guard who was standing nearby to "see that malaysiakini is out".

However, he declined to explain why the journalist was barred from covering the press conference beyond "You are not allowed to come in."

Last Tuesday, malaysiakini was prevented from attending another press conference by Abdullah, who is also home minister.

The home minister's press secretary Rohaizad Abdul Rahim told the journalist that the web-based daily was barred because it was not accredited and had "misquoted him" previously.

However, Rohaizad refused to elaborate on how he was misquoted.

Denied access

According to an Information Ministry ruling, all media - both local and foreign - have to obtained an official press accreditation issued by the ministry before they are allowed to cover government functions.

Malaysiakini 's application for the official press tags was rejected in April last year.

The Information Ministry said the rejection was because the online news portal did not have a publication permit from the Home Ministry.

The Printing Presses and Publications Act requires that all media organisations apply for publishing permits and have them renewed annually.

However, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zin said the requirement does not apply to Internet publications.

Since it was launched two years ago, malaysiakini has repeatedly encountered difficulties in covering ministerial and official functions, including press conferences called by the police.

Reaction to Suhakam report

On one occasion, the deputy premier aide Rohaizad reportedly told malaysiakini journalists that it was his "prerogative" as the press secretary to bar them "as and when necessary".

There have been a few times when malaysiakini was allowed into press conference on the condition that its journalists do not ask any questions.

And yet, another malaysiakini journalist who was once also barred from a press conference by an official was later allowed entry by Abdullah himself.

The journalist approached Abdullah personally and inquired if she could attend the conference.

Abdullah said "of course" and ushered her into the meeting room himself. The incident was witnessed by several journalists who were covering the conference at Intan Auditorium in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, in June.

Malaysiakini had planned today to ask the home minister for his comments on the scathing report by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) which found the police guilty of abusing human rights at the aborted 100,000 People's Gathering along Kesas Highway last November.

Earlier at the opening of the conference this morning, Abdullah said civilisational dialogues are essential in a multiracial country such as Malaysia for many reasons.

Apart from promoting mutual understanding between different races and cultural groups, such dialogues will prepare the people better to resist the shaping of one dominant culture worldwide, he added.

Also present at the ceremony were Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, UM vice-chancellor Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zai and Centre for Civilisational Dialogue director Assoc Prof Azizan Baharuddin.

The previous director of the centre that organised today's conference, Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar, had his contract terminated by the university in 1999 without any reasons given.