No official comments were available but representatives of DZY Marketing, the local importer, said they believed that the newspaper was withheld because it deals with issues relating to human rights abuses in China, including those against Falun Gong supporters.

Under Malaysia's Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (amended 1987), the Home Ministry have the power to prevent the importation of newspapers under a variety of headings, including those that are "in any manner prejudicial to ... the relationship with any foreign country or government."

DZY Marketing distributes 8,500 copies of The Epoch Times and the affected issues were withheld on 9 and 13 June 2005, respectively. The Epoch Times, Southeast Asian edition, is a weekly published by PT Sinar Epoch in Surabaya, Indonesia, and has been available in Malaysia since February 2004. Although the print edition has been limited, The Epoch Times is still available online.

The Centre for Independent Journalism calls for the Government to release the publications immediately in the interest of providing fair opportunities for the public to obtain their information and independent news. The Government should respect the right of the individual to be informed and select his or her own source of information. In this regard, CIJ also renews its call for the repeal of the Printing Presses and Publications Act that restricts access to information and press freedom in Malaysia.    


ACTION

Please send appeals to:

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's Office,
Federal Government Administration Centre,
Bangunan Perdana Putra,
62502 Putrajaya,
Malaysia.

Tel: 603-8888 8000.
Fax: 603-8888 3444

For further information, please contact Sonia Randhawa at 03 4023 0772