Makkal Osai - Indefinite Suspension asks UMNO Youth; Makkal Appeals against Suspension; MIC denies Involvement; Un offended Christians: Lift It
ABOVE: Malaysiakini latest story (details H E R E) on Tamil Daily Makkal Osai's Suspension and MIC involvement: MIC has categorically denied any involvement in its suspension. Meanwhile UMNO Youth is not satisfied and ask for longer suspension until an assurance is given. And not offended Christians have call for the lift in the suspension, it was an overreaction.The owner has lodged an appeal
UMNO Youth in a late statement (ABOVE) calls for an indefinite suspension Makkal Osai until the Government is satisfied that the paper can give an assurance that it will not repeat its publication. He stressed that that “freedom of speech and writing“ do not mean any party can touch on issues that would lead to religious and racial sensitivities.
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ABOVE: The GM SM Periasamy said he would make an appeal on Monday for a reduction in the suspension as it would cost the Paper a losses of RM500,000. He also accused MIC of instigating and flaming up the issue and blown it out of proportion.“We did not get any explanation or show-cause. There is this sudden letter – the Times have reported “a slap in the face”. Of course, the first thing we are going to do is to appeal to Government on Monday - to immediately reduce the punishment – the decision the Government has taken"He added that the 1 month suspension will cause the company to lose close to RM500,000.
The paper that claims to have a circulation of 25,000 has a staff of 97. He said the issue has been blow out proportion by certain quarters.
“I could say that MIC was the one who instigated the Public and MIC was the one who pressured the Government to take the stern action against us”
ABOVE: MIC CWC member S. Murugesan hotly denied the allegation and said it was on religious grounds.
= == = == = == == = == = == = == =“Look I don’t think so. Makkal Osai has always been critical of the MIC leadership and no action was taken against them. But this is something purely not related to Politics, with any party or individual but something to do with religion”
If not offended go H E R E for a glimpse of the Full pic
Tamil Nesan Too Carries Offensive Picture, Claims Makkal Osai
the other, on page 3 of its Aug 23 edition. He said following this, a report was lodged against Tamil Nesan at the Sentul district police headquarters here today. (see BELOW)
ABOVE: John a/l James was at the Sentul Police Station where he lodged a report (BELOW), after showing a copy of Tamil Nesan paper that also published the picture - so it should also be suspended
"That edition (Aug 23) carries a picture of Puchong MIC division head, Peter Sinnanppan, holding up the same offensive image of Christ which was enlarged to poster size. "Tamil Nesan repeated that image which is deemed sensitive and was a mistake to serve its political interest.
So, appropriate action must also be taken against that newspaper," said Periasamy. On Makkal Osai's suspension, he said the newspaper's management had also acted accordingly by suspending its staff who was responsible for inserting the offensive caricature. He said all its editorial staff had also been warned and told to be more careful with articles and pictures in future. Meanwhile, Sentul district police chief, ACP K. Kumaran when contacted confirmed the police report which was lodged at
More details coming
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Christians who complained about the picture say they are bemused as they had accepted the paper's apology. Sensing perhaps that it has to be even-handed between all of
It apparently shows Jesus smoking and drinking and appeared with the paper's daily spiritual message on its front page with the caption "if someone repents for his mistakes, then heaven awaits him". The Roman Catholic Archbishop of
which owns a rival paper, our correspondent notes.
Zainuddin: Action Against Makkal Osai Apt
SUNGAI PETANI, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- The Internal Security Ministry's action of suspending Tamil newspaper, Makkal Osai, for publishing an offensive picture of Jesus Christ is deemed apt by Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin in the interest of national unity. He said the action should be a reminder to all publications not to publish materials which offended the sensitivities of any race or religion."This also shows that the government does not only act against those who publish articles or pictures that offend the sensitivities of the Malays and Muslims."The government has proven that stern action is also taken against publications that insult other religions," he told reporters after attending a village feast at the Taman Seri Tanjung surau in Sungai Layar, here, today.
He was asked to comment on the Internal Security Ministry's action of suspending the publication permit of the Tamil daily for a month from yesterday for publishing in its Tuesday's edition, a caricature of Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and what appeared to be a can of beer in the other.The ministry's action was in line with provisions in the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 to prevent the publication of materials that threaten public security, peace and morality, contravene the law, or threaten public or national interest.
Makkal Osai had published the offensive picture in its "Quote of the Day" column.
After being lambasted for this by various quarters, the newspaper openly apologised for its oversight but a number of organisations went on to press for stern action by the government against the newspaper. Zainuddin, who is also Member of Parliament for Merbok, said the government had in the past acted against publications that insulted a race or religion. "Each publication must be careful about what it prints to maintain racial unity and harmony," he added.
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Makkal Osai Suspended For One Month
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- The publication permit of the Tamil daily, Makkal Osai, has been suspended for one month from today until Sept 24 for publishing a front-page caricature of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and a can of beer in the other. The Internal Security Ministry made the decision following the publication of the offending picture in the newspaper's Tuesday edition under its "Quote of the Day" column, with a caption quoting Christ as saying that those who repent for their mistakes would go to heaven. "Makkal Osai has contravened a permit condition under sub-section 6(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984," the ministry said in a statement issued here today. It said the ministry's action against Makkal Osai was in line with provisions in the Act to ensure that newspapers did not publish articles or pictures which could threaten public security, harmony and morality, or seriously disturb the thinking of the people, or that contravened the law and threatened public or national interest.
A day after the publication of the offending picture, Makkal Osai openly apologised for the oversight, with its general manager S.M. Periasamy quoted as saying that the picture was mistakenly inserted by a graphic artist. However, a number of non-governmental organisations and political bodies still pressed for stern action by the authorities against the newspaper. The MIC even lodged a police report against Makkal Osai over the caricature.The country has two other Tamil dailies, Tamil Nesan and Malaysia Nanban.
Makkal Osai or "The People's Voice" was published as a weekly newspaper for 15 years before it became a daily from December 2005. It is an offshoot of Tamil Osai which ceased operations in 1990 following a management dispute.
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Easier Look South for Some tips & See who are the Filthy Rich; Malays must change system of beliefs to comprehend its existence in this physical reality.
The Malays have been misled into this NEP false dream and until they are fully awaken and enlightened, the dream will last a while and takes its full course. When will they ever comprehend its existence in this physical reality of the individual man and its great dependence upon other races and species to co-exist and survive?
= == = = =and the latest post H E R E ON
MORE PICS – Varsities Freedom Protest; Have the Winds of Change Started Blowing across the Campuses? Memo Submitted to Suhakam – listen only NO action; It was courage on the part of these students who would now face the music as they are closely watched
posted by multidimid at 10:56 PM
3 Comments:
I am a Roman Catholic and it is sad to see my religion being used as a political tool to score points with the constituents. Again its the overplayed "will incite racial and religious hatred" statement. For the info of our leaders, non-Christians that is, we are far more civilised and forgiving than you will ever know. The GM of the newspaper has apologised. Our church has accepted it and so have I. So let it go. I hope this incident will not be used in the coming GE as I will then deem it as very distasteful.
Is Christ the Saviour, or does Christ need to be saved?
A christian could well have the right to be offended, but then even Jesus said `turn the other cheek`. I am very sure that Christ would not have been offended by this. He would have been above it.
This is the greatest disservice that christians could do to their faith. It`s put them on the same page as that other batch of loonies, and will always be held against them.
Hacharan, I think it's pretty clear that the vast majority of Malaysian Christians have accepted Makkal Osai's apology. This was in fact pointed out in this very blog post that you're replying to.
It is the so-called Hindu Samy Velu getting his revenge on his fellow Hindu Subramaniam, and using Christians as an excuse.
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