Paper rapped over caning story
KUALA LUMPUR - THE Malaysian government has threatened action against the country's biggest English-language daily over an article criticising the caning of three Muslim women, an official said on Thursday.
The Home Ministry found the article published in The Star last Friday may threaten 'public order', said Abdul Razak Abdul Latif, a senior ministry official. The government threat against The Star is likely to fuel concerns that the government is succumbing to conservative Islamists who appear to be gaining influence in this Muslim-majority country.
In the opinion piece, The Star managing editor P. Gunasegaram, a non-Muslim, criticised the Feb 9 caning of three Muslim women for illicit sex, saying it undermined individual rights. The three became the first women to be caned in Malaysia, after an Islamic court found them guilty of having sex out of wedlock.
Mr Abdul Razak, the home ministry official, said the ministry faxed a letter on Wednesday to The Star, giving it 14 days to offer an apology and explanation before the ministry decides whether it will take any action, he said. Action could include revoking the paper's publishing license. All of the country's publications need to annually renew their printing licenses to operate.
Following complaints, The Star removed the article from its website and printed an apology on Wednesday, saying it was mindful that it needed to be sensitive to people's beliefs. 'We would like to categorically state that there was no intention to insult or offend Muslims with the article,' it said.
Mr Abdul Razak said the printed apology was not enough to settle the matter, and that Star would have to reply to the ministry's letter. -- AP
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