The proposed March 12 launch of The Eastern Times , a new Sarawak daily born out of the indefinite suspension of the Sarawak Tribune last month, is most likely to be delayed because of some unexpected developments.

Yesterday, Internal Security Ministry officials in Sarawak went to the printing plant of Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd in Padungan, Kuching and seized several copies and printing plates of The Eastern Times .

A company employee told malaysiakini that there had been mock-up and trial copies since Monday last week strictly for internal circulation and to see what improvements needed to be made before the paper finally hit the street.

But the copies were also found outside the company's premises such as at a local university and other places, according to sources.

This morning, the state Internal Security Ministry acting director Mohamad Hashim Kammaruddin met senior management personnel to seek an explanation why the printing and distribution was carried out without a valid permit.

Unaware of prohibition

The company officials were understood to have told the ministry the printing of some copies were strictly for internal circulation and that they were not aware of such prohibition.

Later Mohd Hashim, when asked whether it would affect the issuance of the permit for The Eastern Times , said he had no comment and that he would leave it to Kuala Lumpur to decide.

He also said papers of the investigations into the printing of the newspaper without permit would be handed to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP).

Sources said application for the newspaper permit is being made by a separate company but using editorial staff previously with the Sarawak Tribune and using the printing facility of Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd which also publishes Utusan Sarawak.