TAMIL DAILY MAKKAL OSAI BANNED AGAIN

Malaysian Tamil Daily Makkal Osai or “The People’s Voice” has a circulation of 52,000 was banned again.

The banning can be interpreted as sending a clear massage to the paper that has cross the border either in its content or reporting. As a responsibility newspaper, social responsibly should always be the top priority.

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Malaysiakini reported the Home Ministry today rejected the renewal of Tamil daily Makkal Osai's publication permit, a move believed to be related to the widespread coverage given to the opposition.

When contacted, Makkal Osai general manager SM Periasamy confirmed that the ministry issued the letter, which stated that the daily's application 'will not be considered'.

The letter did not state any reasons for the rejection.

According to Periasamy, the daily - which is closely linked to former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam - had submitted an application for renewal in July, three months ahead of its permit's expiry.

Makkal Osai, whose office is located in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, has some 100 staff. Their fate remains unknown.

This is not the first time that the newspaper ran into trouble. On Aug 24 last year, the government lapped a one-month suspension after the Tamil daily published an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a beer can four days ago.

It was published as a weekly newspaper for 15 years before it became a daily in December 2005. It is an offshoot of Tamil Osai, which ceased operations in 1990 following a management dispute.