PRESS RELEASE
The Editor,
Daily Express,
Kota Kinabalu.
31.12.1999
Fax. No. 088-238420
SEIZURE OF HARAKAH NEWSPAPER
BY HOME MINISTRY: TOO HASTY,
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED!
PAS Sabah takes special reference to the action by Home Ministry�s Control of Publication and Film Censorship Unit in the confiscation of Harakah newspaper at several news stands in Kota Kinabalu on 29.12.1999.
While Sabah PAS appreciates the concern of the officers in the course of performing their duties to ensure that rules and regulations are strictly adhered to, nonetheless, we are optimistic that the confiscation of Harakah were made too hastily
with political motive attached to it. The action was also against the BN�s government belief of true democracy where people are free to make their choice of information materials that they would like to read.
What information had Harakah twisted that prompted the Ministry to act in such a manner? Were there any pornographic materials printed in Harakah that will contribute further to the already demoralised younger generations as a result of BN government�s compromise in bringing to town what we termed as �yellow culture�? Certainly the answer is none. If there are ever any lies or slanderous materials printed in Harakah, then Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Chairman of the Anti-Slander Panel of UMNO) would be the first man to initiate legal action against Harakah.
So, where is the justification to curb the sale of Harakah? UMNO has their panel of lawyers that are ever ready at any time to sue Harakah if they ever found out that news in Harakah are false and lies.
One major question need to be adressed by the Home Minitry�s Control of Publication and Film Censorship and that is: Why were the officers keeping their eyes closed on the rampant sale of porno agazines,VCDs, etc., in several shops around Sabah?
Are they saying that it is alright for these materials to be sold as it only involves the moral values of our youngsters and did not threaten the well being of BN/UMNO leaders as might have been done by Harakah which resulted in the humiliating defeats of certain figures in UMNO in the last general election? The Home Ministry certainly owed the public an explanation!
HAMZAH HJ. ABDULLAH
Sabah PAS Deputy Commissioner
Tel: 089-222194
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