The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) today condemned the confiscation of opposition newsletters Suara Keadilan and Harakah by the Home Ministry, saying it could be related to the political crisis in Perak.

pakatan cij parliament pc 131108 gayathry Its executive director V Gayathry said CIJ doubts there was any strong basis for the ministry's actions, except that the contents of the publications could give people a different view of the crisis, compared to reports published in the mainstream media.

She said CIJ aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek and impart information.

"The recent confiscation smacks of political control as the papers had been made available in public places since licenses were granted in early 2008.

"It lends credence to the suspicion that the confiscation is related to the political crisis in the state of Perak, where the federal ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional and the opposition pact, Pakatan Rakyat are wrestling for control of the state," said Gayathry.

Yesterday, PKR information chief Tian Chua said the ministry seized nearly 20,000 copies of Suara Keadilan 's Feb 4-11 edition which carried the headline: ‘ Perak cabar SPR ke mahkamah ' (Perak challenges EC to court).

"PKR condemns the confiscation. People have a right to information and compare news against media organisations that are controlled by Barisan Nasional.

"Maybe the news which we are publishing is making the ruling party uncomfortable. But it cannot be used as an excuse for confiscation," Tian had said.

Ministry's excuse not acceptable

PAS' bi-weekly newsletter Harakah has also faced the same fate, as many copies were seized in various states after it highlighted the political situation in Perak. Distributors were also warned not to sell the newsletter.

tian chua suara keadilan permit kdn 220408 newspaper Yesterday, the ministry confirmed that it had launched an operation to seize copies of Suara Keadilan and Harakah, saying the papers were confiscated in a nationwide operation because they were being sold in public places.

Gayathry today slammed the excuse, saying it was unacceptable. She added that invoking the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), which authorises confiscation, shows yet again that the law is a political instrument of the ruling federal coalition.

"CIJ calls on the government to end this practice of seizing publications and to return the copies to the publishers and to repeal the PPPA, which is an unjust law.

"The public has demonstrated rejection of monopoly of expression and official propaganda during the last general election and it will be useful for the ruling government to take that into serious consideration," said Gayathry.