While Suara Keadilan is suspended for questioning the government, Malay rights group Perkasa’s organ Suara Perkasa appears to be given immunity, laments DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

Likening this to a “double-pincer” military manoeuvre by the BN federal government, Lim (below) suggested that the net effect was the curbing of public dissent and condoning of those who fanned racial fires.

sibu by election lim kit siang “This raises the question whether the suspension of Suara Keadilan heralds a new political development in the Barisan Nasional with a double-pincer movement,” he said in a statement today.

“(There appears to be) a clampdown against dissent coupled with the immunity enjoyed by hardliners like the extremist and right-wing Perkasa to incite communal disaffection.”

Lim was responding to the Home Ministry’s decision to suspend PKR organ Suara Keadilan indefinitely for its front-page report accusing the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) of being bankrupt.

Lim said that using Suara Keadilan ’s coverage of Felda’s financial woes as a justification for the ban, was flawed because the latter had already initiated a RM200 million suit against the publication.

“This should not be the basis for any Home Ministry action,” he said.

Where is PM’s ‘openness’?

Meanwhile, Lim said that the suspension of Suara Keadilan must be criticised strongly because it was against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s pledge to create a more open, tolerant, transparent and accountable government.

tian chua suara keadilan permit kdn 220408 newspaper “The suspension of Suara Keadilan ’s publishing permit should be revoked immediately as this is a test of whether Najib is sincere.

“(This) is an essential prerequisite if Malaysia is to make the quantum leap to escape the middle-income trap to become a developed high-income nation with inclusiveness and sustainability,” said Lim.

Suara Keadilan ’s publishing licence was suspended today, two days after the expiry of its previous licence.

Home Ministry publications and al-Quran text control secretary Zaitun Ab Samad said that the decision was made by the ministry’s Panel for Evaluating Printing and Publications Permit Applications (Panel 13), headed by secretary-general Mahmood Adam.