Gov't allows Harakah to publish bi-weekly

The government has reverted Harakah, the organ of Islamic party PAS, to a bi-weekly publication, according to its chief editor Ahmad Lutfi Othman today.

Harakah was forced to cut its frequency from twice a week to twice monthly in February 2000 - three months after then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Barisan Nasional received a mauling in the 1999 general election.

Harakah saw its circulation of over 300,000 at the height of the reformasi movement slashed by half after it was forced to become a fortnightly, mainly because of its inability to respond to breaking news.

Lutfi told Malaysiakini that the newspaper received a letter yesterday from the Home Ministry that the government has approved a request from Harakah to be restored as a bi-weekly publication.

Harakah's board of directors had applied for the bi-weekly publication permit immediately after the March 8 elections that saw the Pakatan Rakyat making history by denying BN two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in four decades.

The letter, according to Lutfi, came with a number of conditions, one of which included monthly reports to KDN of the party's activities to the KDN.

It is also learnt that no date was given in the letter as to when Harakah may commence with its bi-weekly publications.

Positive development

Asked on Harakah's next move, Lutfi said that he will consult with his superiors regarding the editorial content and the necessary changes they must make in order to accommodate the changes, especially regarding distribution and the availability of printing factories.

Nevertheless, Lutfi said that Harakah was more than ready to publish bi-weekly.

When asked what he thought of KDN's decision to grant them the new permit, Lutfi welcomed the decision and described it as a positive development.

"I hope this will be the beginning of an opening on the side of the government to accept democratic values, media freedom and open up better space for self-expression," he said.

"Harakah is not just PAS' newspaper but is also responsible for delivering the truth to the people," added Lutfi.

Ezam: Use freedom responsibly

Meanwhile former PKR Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, who recently rejoined Umno, welcomed the KDN's decision on Harakah.

He also commended Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for keeping his words in introducing reforms.

Ezam said that media freedom was an important democratic principle that should be upheld.

However he urged Harakah not to abuse the freedom it has been given by playing up sensational news or pitting one leader against another or by creating false news.

"The freedom that has been given must be used responsibly without causing any disharmony or racial tensions in this country," he added in a statement.