With only 10 days before its printing deadline, Tamadun , a monthly magazine has to delay its May issue because the Home Ministry has yet to approve its publication permit. The publishing company, Penerbitan Muttaqin, which was given a warning by the Home Ministry last October, is now trying to initiate a talk with the ministry's Publication Control Unit tomorrow to obtain a new permit as the old one expires end of this month.

"We are following normal application procedures but maybe it's due to some problems which occurred before the last general elections when the ministry accused [#1] Tamadun[/#] of publishing seditious reports for the general public," magazine owner Muttaqin Amaluddin said.

In its warning letter to the magazine, the ministry has claimed that Tamadun contained political articles.

"Political articles published (by Tamadun ) were focused toward opposition politics which may offend certain parties, especially certain individuals," according to the letter that was dated October 28.

The ministry also claimed that there were some articles which "raised old stories" that may arouse the hatred among the people toward the government.

Meanwhile, Tamadun former editor, Ahmad Lufti Othman was "surprised" with the latest reaction from the ministry. He stated that the magazine would not publish any controversial issues since it has a new chief editor.

Three years ago, while steering the magazine, Lufti was called thrice by the ministry's officials. He added that the Home Ministry constantly exerted pressure upon the publication because Tamadun tended to publish political issues.

"Those magazines that tried to free themselves from (publishing reports on) the governing party would be accused of being pro-opposition," explained Lufti.

Lufti described the Home Ministry's actions as "oppressing the publishing industry in the country."

"A magazine requires a month to complete its publication processes including getting the relevant material, preparing layouts dan printing the magazine itself. I think the Home Ministry will be familiar with this, but why does the ministry still delay the permit application although the written permission letter was given?" questioned Lutfi.

Lutfi also headed another magazine, Detik , which was banned on March 21 after its permit was suspended for the four months preceding the ban.