Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should fully consult all political parties and the civil society before 'out Mahathiring Mahathir' by launching a crackdown on internet freedom, said Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today.

In a statement, the veteran politician said he was 'surprised' with Abdullah's endorsement of Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin's call to curb internet freedom with his warning that those who spread untruths and slander will be detained.

Lim also noted that a blitz against the internet could mark the 'death knell' for the prime minister's reform pledges.

"Has Abdullah's position become so weakened from recent developments, particularly the challenge mounted by his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that he has so easily succumbed to the hardline proposals of Zainuddin...?" he asked.

The opposition leader also took a swipe at Zainuddin for his claim that the mainstream media had gained credibility "because of laws making them responsible for what they published".

According to Lim, this "is the most outrageous ministerial statement this year".

"The editors of the mainstream media would be the first to challenge the veracity of Zainuddin's claim about the credibility of their muzzled media, although they would not dare do so publicly - or they would not have complained to the authorities about the 'double standards' under which they have to operate as compared to the online media," he said.

Lim said the solution was not to extend the 'muzzle' to the online media but to free the print media by repealing the Printing Presses and Publications Act and removing repressive provisions like the annual licensing requirement for the press.

MAS fares

In another development, Lim said the increase in MAS airfares could not have come at a worse time.

The national carrier yesterday announced that it will increase its domestic fare by 15 percent for the economy class and 25 percent for business class within two weeks.

"[The announcement came] when the complaints of 'Mana Ada Sistem' (MAS) is increasingly heard among passengers in the past month with frequent delays of MAS flights reminiscent of the poor MAS services a decade ago," he said

"Is Transport Minster Chan Kong Choy aware of the abysmal drop in the standard of MAS services because of the frequent flight delays, which have become a daily agony for the travelling public?," he asked

He said Malaysians had the right to question the hike "after billions of ringgit of public monies had been squandered on MAS to benefit a handful of cronies over the past decade".