PETALING JAYA (Aug 13, 2008) : The Catholic weekly Herald was issued with three warning letters before a show cause letter was sent to its publisher on July 16.
A Home Ministry official told theSun the first warning letter was dated March 10 with the second on March 16 and the third on July 1.
The official said the Herald did not print out its printing number properly and carried articles that were contrary to its publishing permit.
"We found the publication carried articles which were politically inclined and touched on Islamic issues," he said.
Among the articles published in Herald that the ministry found to be offensive included articles with tiltles such as 'Islam Grows Result of Western Relativism', Comedy of Errors (in regards to the March 8 general election) and 'Malaysians Despair As Barang Semua Naik' (on price hike).The articles were published between June 1 and July 16.
Another article, said the official, that was deemed offensive was a story on an Italian Catholic journalist who converted to Islam and later reverted to Catholism.
"The first two warning letters were issued for the publication's failure to print its printing number and for carrying articles based on current affairs and politics in Malaysia," the official informed.
"The third warning letter was based on the article that appeared on June 1 with the title 'Comedy of Errors'," he added.
The show cause letter was sent following an article on June 22 titled "America and Jihad - where do they stand?".
"Some of these articles were commentary and editorial pieces that clearly went beyond the religious scope for which the permit was issued," he added.
The newspaper had on Aug 1 replied to the show cause letter.
Meanwhile, Herald's editor Father Lawrence Andrew told theSun he believed the weekly has not stepped out of its line with its editorial contents.
He also said the latest issue will feature an editorial piece on the Permatang Pauh by-election and it will be centred on how to face the challenges of the current times.
"The article will encourage readers to pray for the country and request for God's help to face the challenges we are going through now in Malaysia," he said.
He reiterated that his weekly had not breached any permit conditions.
Herald, which recently challenged the ministry in court on the use of the world 'Allah' has a circulation of 12,000 and is sold in churches on Sunday for RM1.
Tim Leonard
The Sun
13/08/08
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