KL gov’t seizes opposition papers;
cops poise ban on protest vigils

THE HOME MINISTER of Malaysia has confiscated copies of two major opposition publications Harakah and Suara Keadilan, in various states, the independent online newspaper Malaysiakini reported.

?Malaysiakini, quoting Harakah’s online news site, HarakahDaily, said copies of the party newspaper of PAS (Pan Malaysia Islamic Party) were said to have been seized in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, and Perak.

A Twitter post, Malaysiakini said, also revealed that copies of newspaper of the PKR or People’s Justice Party of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim were also confiscated in four states on Thursday, May 23.

At the same time, Malaysiakini said a ban on the conduct of candle-light vigils is emerging.

“Politically-motivated candlelight vigils have reached a level where the police could no longer tolerate, Malaysiakini reported, adding that CPO Mohmad Salleh had urged people to “voice their grievances through legal channels instead.”

The marketing manager of Haraka Daily, Ahmad Faisal Tawang, had said he received calls from vendors in the morning, informing him that not only were ministry representatives seizing copies of the paper, were also raiding the vendors’ premises,” the Malaysiakini story said.

Tawang was also quoted as saying that copies of the paper’s Friday edition dated May 24-26, which featured the frontpage headline ‘GST hadiah BN untuk rakyat (GST is BN’s gift to the rakyat)’ were seized.

Malaysiakini said about 500 copies of the paper’s edition were allegdly seized in Malacca, and more than 1,000 were taken in Alor Setar, and Kedah.