Parliamentary Opposition plans for its own newspaper

PETALING JAYA (April 1, 2008): The parliamentary opposition coalition is planning for its own newspaper.

According to a report in Oriental Daily News, the coalition is coming up with the necessary funds but has yet to decide on the mode of operation of the proposed newspaper.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat publicity chief Tian Chua said the party is in discussions with DAP and PAS over the matter and had come up with three options to run the paper:

• through the issuance of a permit to a non-governmental body;

• through the issuance of a permit to an individual; or

• by the non-Barisan Nasional controlled state governments themselves.

He said another possibility is for a state government to issue a permit to a media organisation to print the "coalition" paper if it is not against of the law.

Under the present law, individuals and organisations do not need the publication permit or even printing presses licence if they are printing a newspaper or magazine for a state government.

Section 25 (1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 says: "Nothing in this Act shall extend to the publication or making of any documents or periodical by or for the Federal or any State Government or any statutory body."

Chua, who is Batu MP, told Oriental Daily the coalition is making the necessary preparations but has yet to set a time frame when the paper would hit the streets.

He said the aim of establishing the "alternative" paper is to break the "monopoly" by the present media organisation.

The Sun