The March 2 edition of regional weekly news magazine Asiaweek was approved for distribution by the Home Affairs Ministry yesterday, after a delay of about three weeks.

However, according to the magazine's local distributor, Magazine Services (M) Sdn Bhd, the Asiaweek issue with a cover date of March 9 has still not been approved for distribution.

The latest edition of another international news weekly, the Far Eastern Economic Review, with a cover date of March 8, has also been held back by the ministry.

Magazine Services, had earlier told malaysiakini that the release letters for the sale of the foreign publications were usually given at the beginning of each week.

"Normally, we will submit the latest copies of the magazines to the ministry for censorship purposes on Fridays and their approval will come the next day or by the following Monday," said an official.

The magazines will then be sold to the public as well as sent to subscribers six days before their cover date, he added.

The Review and Asiaweek have a readership of 15,000 and 25,000 respectively in Malaysia.

Internet versions of the current editions of both magazines are already online.