The country's oldest newspaper has three days to respond in writing to a show-cause letter on why it should not be reprimanded for publishing a cartoon deemed as mocking Prophet Muhammad.

Last night, News Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP) chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar and group editor-in-chief Hishamuddin Aun were summoned to the Internal Security Ministry in Putrajaya over the matter.

Ministry officials wanted to know the newspaper's rationale for publishing the cartoon, read the front-page of the New Straits Times (NST) today.

"The matter is in the hands of the authorities. Everyone should allow the law to take its course," Hishamuddin was quoted as saying.

The controversy surrounds the Non Sequitur cartoon strip, first published on Monday, which featured a street artist sitting on a chair next to a sign which read 'Caricatures of Muhammad While You Wait'. A boxed caption read 'Kevin finally achieves his goal to be the most feared man in the world'.

The next day, Islamic-based opposition party PAS and several non-governmental organisations lodged a police report against NST .

Yesterday, the newspaper reprinted the cartoon alongside an editorial asking the people and government to judge if it was really offensive.

"The show-cause letter was the government's emphatic reply," read its front-page report today.

Newly appointed Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin yesterday said many ministers, including those who were non-Muslims, had expressed regret over the incident.

The minister described NST 's decision to run the cartoon twice as unwise and provocative.

Previously, the government issued an indefinite suspension against Sarawak Tribune for reproducing the controversial caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, first published in a Danish newspaper, that riled up Muslims around the world.

Following this, Chinese newspaper Guangming Daily was suspended for two weeks over a similar offence.

Dangerous precedent

According to a media observer, the government's 'swift and harsh' response against Sarawak Tribune had set a dangerous precedent.

"Because of this, it cannot now turn around and let others off the hook for a similar offence," said the observer, who declined to be named.

"If it goes soft on NST , the people will accuse the government of double standards especially when the newspaper is seen to be linked to Umno," he added.

However, the observer stressed that for the sake of press freedom, the government should refrain from resorting to extreme measures.

Meanwhile, PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub also warned the government against practicing any double standards on this issue.

Contacted today, he said the wing will call for a ban and hold a protest tomorrow outside the newspaper's office in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, if it fails to apolosige.