SHAH ALAM, 23 May: PKR insists that they are undaunted by the latest action of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) in seizing the party’s official newspaper ‘Suara Keadilan’ (Voice of Justice).
Instead, in a news release, PKR Secretary General, Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail condemned MOHA’s move and described it as politically motivated.
Suara Keadilan was seized from supplier’s and distributor’s shops nationwide.
“Seizing the Suara Keadilan newspaper in several states is an attempt to restrict the dissemination of information, especially about the 13th General Election (GE-13) fraud.
“It is further evidence that Umno-BN continuously wants to fool Malaysians by attempting to hide alternative news and reports about national politics which can be evaluated by the people,” he said.
He added that even before being in the position of the new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has returned to acting in a harsh and undemocratic manner.
“Within 24 hours starting yesterday, MOHA officers seized and threatened to arrest suppliers and distributors of Suara Keadilan in some places,” he said.
Saifuddin explained that in Ipoh last night, seven MOHA officers raided the premises of a supplier of Suara Keadilan and seized 214 copies of the newspaper in which all the officer refused to provide any evidence of an enforcement letter of seizure.
Meanwhile in Malacca, he said that at 10am today, 70 copies of Suara Keadilan were seized from a distributor who stated that MOHA officers gave the excuse that it was in violation with the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
“A similar incident happened in Johor Bahru, Seremban, Bangi and also Kota Bharu in Kelantan today.
“PKR expects that this gross, unjust and undemocratic action will continue as seen in the several arrests of several opposition figures and activists such as Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Adam Adli, Tian CHua Haris Ibrahim and Tamrin Ghafar as well as 18 other activists who showed support towards Adam Adli,” he said.
Saifuddin said that PKR is disappointed because the Umno-BN government is still, with their arrogance, failing to change attitudes towards alternative news and views even when they have full control of the media in this country.