Suara Perkasa hauled up over ISA call

The Home Ministry has asked Suara Perkasa to explain why its maiden issue published this week had called for the arrest of MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The Malaysian Insider understands the chief editor of the Malay right wing group Perkasa publication was asked to attend a meeting at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya at 5pm today. Another meeting has been scheduled for Monday, newspaper officials said.

"Actually two Home Minstry officers came to our office and took several first edition of the Suara Perkasa and asked the editor (Amirudin Mohamed) to see them at their office," the newspaper's chief editor Daud Ibrahim


"The meeting took place for an hour and after that, they asked me to see them next Monday, perhaps there are some matters they are not satisfied and want to see the chief editor," he added.

Earlier, Perkasa sources revealed the meeting with the authorities.

“Yes, the Home Ministry has called in the Suara Perkasa chief editor today, the meeting is going on now and it is with the secretary-general,” a Perkasa source told The Malaysian Insider.

Wee, who is also deputy education minister, has said he is considering suing the newspaper for its report. Perkasa had slammed Wee for apparently questioning Malay rights when he reportedly asked recently if the Mara scholarship programme for Bumiputera students would be scrapped together with the Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships.

“Perkasa urges the Government to arrest Wee Ka Siong under the ISA (Internal Security Act),” said Perkasa deputy president Datuk Abdul Rahman Abu Bakar in the front-page article of the newspaper’s maiden issue.

The ministry, which has powers over all publications in the country, had earlier disclosed it will not renew the publishing permit for Suara Keadilan as it was dissatisfied with the PKR newspaper’s explanation for its last issue headlined “Felda Bankrupt”. Printing permits are issued annually but can be retracted by the ministry.

Felda, the federal land development authority, has threatened a RM200 million suit against the PKR paper, its publishers and printers, for the report which it had denied despite admitting that its cash reserves had dwindled from RM4 billion in 2004 to some RM1.35 billion last year.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders were outraged over the non-renewal of permit for Suara Keadilan and pointed out to possible double standards as Suara Perkasa could continue despite invoking the ISA.

But Daud added he had no problems about meeting the authorities which recently issued the printing permit to the Malay rights group.

"I have no issues to meet them if called. I came to this field with the awareness of the risks and challenges that have to be faced, so I have no problems," he said when asked what action the ministry might take against the newspaper.

"This is a normal thing, they want to monitor our publication … so they come here," he added.

Asked if the ministry action was linked to a statement by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin seeking the authorities to investigate Suara Keadilan for publishing an inflammatory article, Daud said he would refrain from connecting today's action to anyone in particular.

Daud is expected to meet senior ministry officials at noon on Monday.

Independent Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali formed Perkasa in the aftermath of Election 2008 and has been fighting against what he said were attempts to erode Malay rights.

The newspaper is sold for RM 2 and is funded by Media Perkasa Sdn Bhd which has a paid-up capital of RM500,000.



comments


Can someone please enlighten me? Is Perkasa stronger than Barisan? They are dictating what the govt. should or should not do. If this is not checked than we are in big trouble.

Stop the circulation of the first edition of suara perkasa for being insensitive, racialist, and inciting racial disharmony by pitting the Malays against the Chinese. That is the main intention.

Better still, revoke its license.

Suara Keadilan had its license revoked.... so, let me guess what will happen to Suara Perkasa........ AHA!!!! The goblins will get to continue publishing it !!!

This just a wayang or sandiwara for the public and specifially for the non malays and a great blow for MCA. In simple language if the statement hurts Mr. Wee then what about others. I suppose it hurts all non malays too expect TDM. What action is the Govt. going to take. Mr. Wee being in the Govt. should have tell the Govt. to close the paper solely on this.and then sue Perkasa. Since Mr. Wee have NO guts to do so, he should resign and paint red on MCA. Don't sit there like a idiot to be call our ancestors as prostitute by others. Enough is Enough

UMNO needs Perkasa to continue harping on Malay rights. In the spirit of 1Malaysia, UMNO can't publicly take the racial stand but they need it. Shame on Wee Ka Siong still supports this vile regime. I hope he will be back-stabbed by his own party colleague one day to realize his mistake.