LET'S STAY TOGETHER
....decisions to make, actions to take....
The Star
Thursday, 9th February 2006
CABINET WANTS TOUGH ACTION AGAINST SARAWAK TRIBUNE
by Mergawati Zulfakar& Ian Mcintyre
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet was unanimous that tough action be taken against Sarawak Tribune, including suspension of its publication permit.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad The ministers have left it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He is expected to make a decision as early as today.
When contacted last night, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Cabinet members, including non-Muslim ministers, yesterday gave very strong views on the matter and were not in the mood for a compromise.
The Cabinet also felt that the action of the newspaper was a serious matter, especially in the light of Malaysia’s position as the current chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
“It is an embarrassing situation for us because Malaysia is holding the OIC chair, and it involves an Islamic matter,” he said. Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, had said on Tuesday that action would be taken against the newspaper after getting a report from ministry officials who met the newspaper management.
Sarawak Tribune managing director Datuk Idris Buang and group editor Toman Mamora were summoned here to submit a reply to a show-cause letter and explain why the newspaper reprinted the caricatures. The newspaper had apologised to the Muslim community for any damage and hurt caused in the reproduction of the cartoons in its Feb 4 edition.
In Kuala Lumpur, police are investigating the publishers of the Sarawak Tribune under the Printing Presses and Publications Act for publishing the controversial caricatures, reports Lourdes Charles.
It is learnt that police have classified the case under Section 8 (2) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
In Kuching, anxiety could perhaps best describe the mood of the employees of the Sarawak Tribune yesterday as they awaited news of possible action against the newspaper by the Internal Security Ministry.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Police keeping watch as Sarawak Tribune staff wait outside the office for news in Kuching.Some of them gathered at the two coffeeshops opposite the office at Jalan Abell, reports Jack Wong. A team of uniformed police officers, Special Branch officers and plainclothes policemen from the Public Order and Riot Unit kept a close watch of the premises following news that groups were planning to stage a protest there.
The main entrance was closed but the journalists and editorial staff reported for work. “We are working as usual and are waiting for further instruction from the bosses who are in Kuala Lumpur,” said an editorial staff.
“We are worried over the daily’s fate,” he added.
Sarawak Tribune was established in 1945 and is the state's oldest English daily.
See what I mean when you play around with such issues? Now, the situation has spiralled uncontrollably across the globe. Even our local daily is in the rut.
Yes, people talk about freedom of speech. Is it worth it when ultimate freedom is taken away when you have riots at your doorstep, severed ties, political and social understanding tainted with hate, confusion and anger?
On the other hand, the situation could have been handled more rationally. Although I do not condone such an act insensitive and malicious in nature, I also think that we all could do better than reacting violently in the name of religion. We must not fuel the existing hatred. We have laws, educating the ignorant is also the key element. I believe that justice would prevail.
I pray for it.
....decisions to make, actions to take....
The Star
Thursday, 9th February 2006
CABINET WANTS TOUGH ACTION AGAINST SARAWAK TRIBUNE
by Mergawati Zulfakar& Ian Mcintyre
PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet was unanimous that tough action be taken against Sarawak Tribune, including suspension of its publication permit.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad The ministers have left it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He is expected to make a decision as early as today.
When contacted last night, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Cabinet members, including non-Muslim ministers, yesterday gave very strong views on the matter and were not in the mood for a compromise.
The Cabinet also felt that the action of the newspaper was a serious matter, especially in the light of Malaysia’s position as the current chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
“It is an embarrassing situation for us because Malaysia is holding the OIC chair, and it involves an Islamic matter,” he said. Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, had said on Tuesday that action would be taken against the newspaper after getting a report from ministry officials who met the newspaper management.
Sarawak Tribune managing director Datuk Idris Buang and group editor Toman Mamora were summoned here to submit a reply to a show-cause letter and explain why the newspaper reprinted the caricatures. The newspaper had apologised to the Muslim community for any damage and hurt caused in the reproduction of the cartoons in its Feb 4 edition.
In Kuala Lumpur, police are investigating the publishers of the Sarawak Tribune under the Printing Presses and Publications Act for publishing the controversial caricatures, reports Lourdes Charles.
It is learnt that police have classified the case under Section 8 (2) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
In Kuching, anxiety could perhaps best describe the mood of the employees of the Sarawak Tribune yesterday as they awaited news of possible action against the newspaper by the Internal Security Ministry.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Police keeping watch as Sarawak Tribune staff wait outside the office for news in Kuching.Some of them gathered at the two coffeeshops opposite the office at Jalan Abell, reports Jack Wong. A team of uniformed police officers, Special Branch officers and plainclothes policemen from the Public Order and Riot Unit kept a close watch of the premises following news that groups were planning to stage a protest there.
The main entrance was closed but the journalists and editorial staff reported for work. “We are working as usual and are waiting for further instruction from the bosses who are in Kuala Lumpur,” said an editorial staff.
“We are worried over the daily’s fate,” he added.
Sarawak Tribune was established in 1945 and is the state's oldest English daily.
See what I mean when you play around with such issues? Now, the situation has spiralled uncontrollably across the globe. Even our local daily is in the rut.
Yes, people talk about freedom of speech. Is it worth it when ultimate freedom is taken away when you have riots at your doorstep, severed ties, political and social understanding tainted with hate, confusion and anger?
On the other hand, the situation could have been handled more rationally. Although I do not condone such an act insensitive and malicious in nature, I also think that we all could do better than reacting violently in the name of religion. We must not fuel the existing hatred. We have laws, educating the ignorant is also the key element. I believe that justice would prevail.
I pray for it.
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