The axe has been at it again. This time it fell on the popular Chinese political magazine Special Weekly’s editor Xiao Hong Long  yesterday for reasons similar to what led to the suspension of Chinese Radio 988 DJs - touching on sensitive racial issues.

It is learned that a 'Mr U-turn' political cartoon, deemed offensive by the authorities, could have been the last straw.

Xiao, 37, was told by his superiors that the Home Ministry had blacklisted him and demanded his removal.

But the company had instead decided to retain Xiao, who is currently on "leave" while awaiting his fate.

Home Ministry's Publications Control and Quranic Text secretary Zaitun Ab Samad has, however, dismissed the accusation.

In her SMS reply to Malaysiakini yesterday, Zaitun said that the ministry had issued only a warning to the magazine for carrying gambling advertisements.

Truly a civilised ministry

She said that the ministry had never issued any order for any staff member be sent on leave. Zaitun insisted that the ministry does not interfere in matters involving the staff of media companies and does not have the power to do so.

special weekly ong tee keat 020609 01Special Weekly belongs to Life Publication, a subsidiary of Malaysia's biggest Chinese media group - Media Chinese International Limited.

The group also controls three leading local Chinese dailies - Sin Chew Daily, China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity had earlier told Malaysiakini that the ministry had issued several warning letters to Special Weekly.

Two of the most recent ones concerned an article by columnist Ouyang Wen Feng and a work by cartoonist Phoneboy, whose real name is Zhaung Zi Huan.

In early July, the magazine had published Ouyang's review of a homosexual movie, which was published together with an illustration deemed offensive by the Home Ministry.

Skating on thin ice

The ministry subsequently issued a warning letter describing the publication of the movie poster as "immoral" and "would affect the emotions of the public".

Sources said that the issue, however, eventually died down after the editorial department provided an explanation to the ministry.

In this latest fray with the Home Ministry, the magazine had published Phoneboy's cartoon which scorched Prime Minister Najib Razak as 'Mr U-turn', provoking yet another warning letter from the ministry.

"In its letter, the Home Ministry accused the magazine of disturbing national and racial harmony, and of instigating hatred."

The magazine left out Phoneboy's cartoon in its latest edition, hoping to ease the home minister's anger.

But other sources claimed that Special Weekly has been facing difficulties renewing its licence this year, and as such, Xiao's departure could be an effort to secure its survival.