A roundtable discussion will be held soon by Barisan Alternatif leaders and independent media organisations to counter the Home Ministry's ban on publications critical of the government.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia vice-president Rustam Sani said that the ministry's ban on most opposition publications is a clear strategy by the government to curb press freedom in the country although there is no legitimate reasons for them to do so.

"They (Home Ministry) continue to carry out bans and seizures of opposition publications even though there are no clear laws that allow them to do so," he told a press conference in Petaling Jaya.

"That is why a roundtable discussion between BA leaders and independent media organisations to counter the Home Ministry's ban on our publications will be convened soon," he added.

Rustam said that the opposition continues to face countless problems with their publications such as sales being restricted to party members only, withdrawal of the annual publishing permits by the ministry, and defamation suits against writers and editors who are critical of the government.

The opposition must find alternative ways and means to disseminate information, he added.

The roundtable discussion will include those who published the fortnightly magazine Detik , now banned, and PAS' Purnama daily, yet to be given a permit.

"Some of us publish without a permit and distribute our publications through our own sources," said Rustam.

"Others publish by different mastheads to escape from the 'periodical publication' regulations which require licences," he added.

Burdensome strategies

However, Rustam admitted that these strategies were legally risky and also financially burdensome when the ministry takes action.

PRM is considering legal action against the Home Ministry for not responding to its application for a license to publish the party organ "Suara PRM", under Section (6)(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act, 1984.

The party's legal adviser R Sivarasa, who was also present at the press conference, said that a "friendly lawyer's note" had been sent to the Home Ministry to remind them about the application submitted in March 1999.

The ministry had only responded by requesting the party to submit its change of party name from PSRM (Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia) to the current name, PRM.

The party alleged that the ministry's enforcement unit secretary Tengku Mahmood Tengku Ismail had said in an interview with local magazine Tamaddun that PRM had its license approved when in fact, it had not.

"We are totally unhappy with the ministry's silence regarding this matter which is not becoming of a responsible government," said Sivarasa.

"Denying us a permit to publish is against our basic constitutional rights which guarantees freedom of speech," he added.