The deputy prime minister has yet to hear of the ban on Malaysiakini journalists from covering government functions as mentioned by Information Ministry parliamentary secretary Senator Zainuddin Maidin on national TV yesterday.

When asked about the issue at a press conference today, Abdullah looked slightly lost, and was quickly briefed by his press secretary.

"That is with regard to accredited passes," Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said without elaborating further.

(Media personnel covering government functions are required to wear accreditation passes approved by the Information Ministry. Malaysiakini 's application for the official press cards was rejected last year as it was informed that the website has no publication licence. This is despite the fact that Internet websites such as malaysiakini do not need publication licences.)

When told that Zainuddin's explanation for the ban was due to the lack of "credibility" of malaysiakini , Abdullah said that he would not comment on the issue as he has yet to hear what the senator had said.

"If I say something and he says something else, then you will be confused," said Abdullah, who seemed to be in a cheery mood.

Abdullah was speaking at a press conference held after the officiating of KL 21 Convention - a get together of all authorities and interested parties to discuss ways to make KL a better city.

Zainuddin, a guest on the TV3 talkshow 'Malaysia Hari Ini', said yesterday that malaysiakini reporters are barred because the Internet news website's "credibility is doubtful".

According to Zainuddin, the barring of the reporters from covering government functions is not because the website is critical of the government.

He said that the credibility of malaysiakini was proven doubtful because the Far Eastern Economic Review , a regional magazine, has reported that the website received aid from a fund owned by infamous speculator George Soros.

Zainuddin was referring to the Review 's article "Levelling the Field" - dated Feb 8 - which stated that malaysiakini was funded by a foundation set up by Soros.

False report

Both malaysiakini and the Open Society Institute, which administers the Soros fund, have stated that the report was false and the website does not receive any money from the financier.

In addition, the Review has also clarified that Soros funds the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa), and added that the organisation is "one source of funding for malaysiakini ".

In response, Seapa said that the clarification was misleading as no Soros money is given directly or indirectly to malaysiakini .

Zainuddin also said that journalists in Malaysia have the freedom to cover ministers, unlike in western countries where ministers are interviewed from a distance.

This is the second time in less than a fortnight that a member of the government had said that malaysiakini journalists are barred from attending government functions.

On Feb 4, Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung was reported to have said that malaysiakini journalists would not be allowed to cover government functions because they are critical of the government.

Despite attempts by the Information Ministry officials to bar two malaysiakini journalists from covering a government function the following day, they were later allowed in.

Chor later clarified that the ban applied not just to malaysiakini but to all media personnel without accreditation passes.

No 'double standards'

Speaking at the same press conference, Abdullah was also asked to comment on the age ruling on Puteri Umno - the young women wing of Umno.

"The age ruling applies to everybody in Puteri Umno, even the head of Puteri Umno," said Abdullah, who is also Umno deputy president.

Only those below 35 years old can join Puteri Umno, while the age limit for Umno Youth is 40, which include an exception for the Umno Youth leader.

Abdullah also clarified that there is no "double standards" with regard to the age ruling when comparing Puteri Umno and Pemuda Umno.

"Pemuda is Pemuda, and Puteri Umno is Puteri Umno," said Abdullah.