The Home Ministry rejected the newspaper print applications by online portals FZ Daily and Malaysiakini, citing the need to control the number of newspapers in the country.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the number of existing newspapers in the country was sufficient, based on current readership.
“The rejection of FZ Daily and Malaysiakini’s applications is an early measure to control the number of newspapers, which can mislead the public if there’s too much news by a variety of newspapers,” he said.
He was responding through a written reply in Dewan Rakyat today to a question from Datuk Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani) on the reason for the government denying print permits to FZ Daily, Malaysiakini and Suara Keadilan.
Zahid added that the applicants also appeared to have a tendency to publish sensational news to attract readers’ attention.
He said Suara Keadilan application was rejected due to its publication contents being in violation of the Printing Presses and Publications 1984 (Amendment) Act 2012.
“The publisher was issued a show cause letter but failed to reply, so their application is still pending,” he said.
Photo: Gavin Firkser / Flickr
Story: Bernama
