Malaysiakini was today barred from covering a press conference scheduled at the Home Ministry headquarters in Putrajaya - the result of a blanket order not to allow it to enter any press conference at the ministry.

Ministry staff at the building lounge told Malaysiakini that the order was issued by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi himself.

This is in contrast with former Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, under whom Malaysiakini was allowed to cover press conferences in the ministry building.

Malaysiakini was also barred from the Defence Ministry headquarters, when Zahid  served as defence minister before the 13th general election.

The Bagan Datoh MP and Umno vice-president has trained his guns on this news portal several times in the past few months since assuming his new post, including “warning” Malaysiakini journalist Lawrence Yong not to “spin” his words during a press conference two months ago.

Today's press conference, scheduled at 2.45pm, was conducted by the ministry secretary-general at which “evidence” about the “PAS No 2 leader’s“ involvement in the Shiite sect was revealed.

Shortly after the general election, another Malaysiakini journalist was also similarly barred from entering the Home Ministry building to cover a press conference there.