A special issue of PAS-owned newspaper, Harakah, would roll off the press this Friday, said Harakah editor Zulkifli Sulong today. The 40-page issue, to retail at RM1.50, will be an introduction to the "new" tabloid, which had its publication frequency reduced from eight issues to two a month under its permit renewed last week.

"This would be an early-month issue, dated from March 1 to 15. In it, we will explain the new era of Harakah, our printing days, number of pages, price and other features of our upcoming issues," Zulkifli told malaysiakini.

Zulkifli added that future issues of Harakah, following this Friday's special edition, will expand to 72 pages and be sold at RM2.50 per copy.

It is expected that this thicker version of Harakah will contain more commentary and analyses pieces. The tabloid will be published on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, the first issue being for the first half of the month and the other for the next half.

"This is the best we can do. We do not have any intentions to break the law. In fact, we want to comply with it," he said.

Zulkifli confirmed that the publication of only two issues a month would cause a definite decline to its readership.

"We have to follow the government's regulations. Therefore, to minimize the loss, we will increase the number of pages and price of the upcoming issues," he said, adding that also affected were the staff and subsidiaries of the tabloid.

Harakah has 60 staff on its payroll. Zulkifli however said that no lay-offs had taken place and they would try their best to maintain the present staff strength.