The publishing permit of new English daily Eastern Times and its weekend edition Sunday Eastern Times , have been approved by the Internal Security Ministry effective last night.

In a statement from the ministry today, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Internal Security Minister approved the two separate permits to Syarikat Total Progressive Sdn Bhd.

The permits were issued in accordance with subsection 6(1) of the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301).

The new tabloid was established following the decision of Sarawak Tribune's management to close the paper, which was suspended indefinitely by the government after it had published offending caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.