The three latest issues of the international news magazine Asiaweek are being held back by the Home Affairs Ministry with no official reasons given.

A staff at Magazine Services Sdn Bhd, the local distributor for the publication, said today that the three issues with the cover dates of May 25, June 8 and June 15 are still awaiting approval from the ministry for distribution.

"The ministry did not tell us the reasons for holding them back," said the official, who declined to be named. "We do not know when the issues will hit the stands," he added.

An official at the ministry's Publication Control Unit told malaysiakini today when contacted that he could not comment on "this very interesting question".

Both the ministry's secretary-general Aseh Che Mat and chief secretary of the Unit Abdul Rahim Mohd Radzi were not available for comment.

In March, the magazine's managing editor Zoher Abdool Carim told malaysiakini that a letter had been sent to the Home Affairs Ministry asking for an explanation for previous approval delays but no reply had been received.

The government, on the other hand, gave contradictory statements, with Information Minister Khalil Yaakob claiming that there was no reason for the delays, and Deputy Home Affairs Minister Zainal Abidin Zin saying that the delays were probably due to negative reports on Malaysia.

'Umno's skeletons'

Asiaweek's latest issue with the cover date of June 15, which is available on-line at the magazine's website, features an article on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad headlined 'On his own' with the sub-heading ' Daim's departure end one of Asia's most effective political alliances - and begins an uncertain era for Mahathir'.

The article featured several problems in Umno and how Mahathir responded to those problems. including to "ease out Daim and sack a few corrupt middle-rankers and have his son, Mokhzani, sell his business interests in the bid to overcome Umno's old-fashioned, uncaring and out of touch image".

The article added that Daim, 63, is thought to be the keeper of Umno's skeletons.

"Together he and Mahathir have ensured the party's financial and political dominance, micro-managed the economy, nurtured a coterie of rich Malay businessmen and brooked no interference to their power.

"But now the premier is scrambling to placate an electorate increasingly hostile to such autocratic rule. Within Umno itself, the rank and file complain that the party is indelibly tainted by money politics.

"Due to address the Umno general assembly later this month, Mahathir needed to make a big statement. Daim's resignation, whether voluntary or induced, counts as a deafening shout. But will it placate the critics? The outcome is unclear," the article said.

The article added that Mahathir is now "virtually isolated at the top of the pile, minus a trusted confidante in Umno's inner circle".

Unflattering photo

Asiaweek's double issue of June 1-8 featured its annual list of 50 most powerful Asians which included PAS deputy president and Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang, who ranked seventh, malaysiakini founders (18), business mogul T Ananda Krishnan (29), Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (39) and United Nations special envoy to Burma Razali Ismail (41).

Asiaweek first raised Mahathir's ire when it published an unflattering photo of him in its Jan 26 issue, which he said attempted to portray him as an 'idiot'.

Distribution problems began with its March 2 issue which was held back by three weeks. The issue featured an article containing the allegation that the Moro fighters in the Philippines were supported by the Malaysian government.

Later issues of Asiaweek were also delayed for up to three weeks before distribution approval was granted.

Meanwhile, another international weekly, the Far Eastern Economic Review, which suffered the same dilemma as Asiaweek's when the distribution of its previous issues was delayed for weeks, is now back on track.

Copies of both publications usually hit the streets six days before their cover dates.

The Home Affairs Ministry's approval for the sale of the foreign publications are usually given at the beginning of each week after a few copies are submitted for vetting the week before.