The government will freeze the issuance of licences for the print media for at least a decade because of declining standards among newspapers today, New Straits Times associate editor Rehman Rashid said.

"This is not about repression (of the media). The closing down of licences is because he (Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) feels there are enough already," he said in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, in response to questions.

Rehman, who was asked for his views on the government's refusal to grant print licences to online daily malaysiakini and PAS organ Harakah , said he expected the freeze to be maintained for "one or two terms" (a reference to political tenure).

His comments, however, were disputed today by Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye who said there is no change in policy.

Abdullah is also the internal security minister overseeing enforcement of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA), which includes power over the issuance and renewal of annual printing and publishing licences. The minister's decisions are not subject to judicial review.

'Greater competence'

Rehman, who works for the English-language NST - which has openly declared support for the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional - claimed there is "not enough talent" in local newspapers today and that their "standard has come down".

He said the withholding of new licences would provide current media players with the opportunity to build greater competence.

"This is the work of consolidation that Pak Lah wants. Under (former premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad), it was about quantity like the number of tall buildings. Under Pak Lah, it is about quality," he said.

Reporters had approached Rehman for comments following the national consultation on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) organised by the Era Consumer.

He was invited to speak on media freedom at the consultation, which was meant to examine Suhakam's performance since it was set up in 1999.

Rehman rejoined NST in January after he was sacked last May for alleged insubordination, following his refusal to write a speech for then group editor-in-chief Abdullah Ahmad.

Same policy

Contacted for a response, Chia said the government's licencing policy for the print media remains the same.

"We don't stop or discourage applications for new licences. Interested parties should feel free to apply, but approval is at the discretion of the minister," he said.

"There is no fixed policy to reduce or increase the number of newspapers. As for the standard or quality of a publication, this would depend first and foremost on the team of journalists and editors."

Asked about the status of malaysiakini's application for a print licence, he reiterated that this was still under consideration.

On June 8, Abdullah in a parliamentary written reply had strongly hinted that the ministry would not approve the two-year-old application, citing fears that the new publication would be "prejudicial and jeopardise national security and public order".

Harakah , which operates with a biweekly print licence, has yet to get a response from the ministry for its application for a daily named Purnama .

Journalists, opposition parties and human rights groups have long lobbied for a freer media climate in Malaysia through repeal of the PPPA.

In May, the Star senior editor Wong Chun Wai had also suggested its repeal during a World Press Freedom Day event, in view of the fact that traditional sources of news are being bypassed by new technology including short message text services.