A PKR Youth member distributes copies of “Keadilan” to passers-by at the Masjid Jamek LRT station in Kuala Lumpur, July 12, 2010.—Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — PKR’s Suara Keadilan finally hit the streets today — 12 days after the party newspaper’s annual printing permit expired — and under a new name, “Keadilan”, to avoid seizure.
The government had refused to renew the permit pending explanations over an article, “Felda Bangkrap”, but PKR vowed to defy authorities and continue printing the weekly.
PKR Youth leaders distributed about 400 copies of Keadilan to city dwellers at the Masjid Jamek LRT station this morning.
The newspaper will also be sold nationwide beginning today, PKR Youth said.
Among those distributing Keadilan today were PKR Youth information chief Lee Khai Loon, Wilayah Persekutuan Youth chief Mad Zaman Mad Tasi, Batu Youth chief Rozan Azen and PKR Youth exco member Ramlan Roes.
Lee told The Malaysian Insider that PKR has printed a total of 100,000 copies despite not having a publishing permit for the weekly.
“We all know that the home ministry had not renewed the publishing permit of Suara Keadilan. However, it is a very important party organ as it reports views often shunned by the mainstream media,” said Lee.
“PKR Youth will fight for as long as it needs to distribute the party’s organ to tell the truth to everyone,” he added.
Suara Keadilan’s printing permit expired on June 30 and it can no longer be printed or published under Section 5(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (1984), after the home ministry refused to renew the permit, citing the unsatisfactory reply from the weekly over its front page “Felda Bangkrap” article.
Incidentally, Keadilan’s “Ada Niat Jahat” front page article accuses the government of not renewing Suara Keadilan’s printing permit to “protect Barisan Nasional’s interests”.
Lee also vowed to fight till the PPPA is abolished.
“We urge all Malaysians to support our fight and follow the truth from all alternative channels that are available,” he added.
Ramlan, on the other hand, urged the home ministry to “act professionally” when granting printing permits to newspapers.
“From what I can see, the home ministry is not professional. A Malay daily pits one race against another on a daily basis, but we don’t see anything being done to it,” he said.
Suara Keadilan editor Dzulkarnain Taib, who was also present at Masjid Jamek LRT station this morning, stressed that the party will continue to print the weekly with new names, even if they do not obtain a printing permit from the home ministry.
The law is silent on newspapers that are not published regularly. All other scheduled publications require annual permits before going to the presses.
A police patrol car was spotted at the scene, with two policemen keeping a close watch on the situation.
PKR chief strategist Chua Tian Chang had said last week the newspaper will be published, though it had failed to appear until today.
The law is silent on newspapers that are not published regularly. All other scheduled publications require annual permits.
Another Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party organ, PAS’ Harakah, is publishing without a permit under the assumption it will be issued soon.
Party leaders had said home ministry officials usually dragged their feet when it came to permit approvals.
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