From The Singapore Straits Times, 26th April 2000
Ministry suspends weekly political tabloid
KUALA LUMPUR -- The government has suspended a weekly tabloid popular for its hard-hitting political commentaries, risking further criticism over its stringent press curbs.
The Home Ministry suspended the publication of the Malay-language Eksklusif newspaper last Saturday and refused to renew its annual printing permit.
The tabloid's permit expired on April 15, publisher Kumpulan Karangkraf said in a statement.
Eksklusif published mostly political essays, written by local journalists who were often critical of the authorities.
Spokesmen for both the Home Ministry and Eksklusif could not be reached for comment.
The suspension comes weeks after a ban on Detik, a political magazine which also criticised the government frequently.
Earlier this year, international press-rights groups assailed the Home Ministry for cutting publication rights of Harakah, a newspaper run by an opposition Islamic party.
The government has so far denied any political motives in these curbs.The authorities say the publications flouted various conditions in their printing contracts and deserved to be penalised. -- AP