When we have draconian laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which requires all print media in Malaysia to obtain a licence and abide by its strict regulations (read : Home Affairs Minister), we get instances of newspapers being refused a permit to publish.

Today, Makkal Osai has been issued a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs which informed them that their publication permit will not be considered without giving any reasons for the same. Speculation is rife that this could be due to Makkal Osai's generous coverage on Pakatan Rakyat's political news.

I have asked around some friends of mine from the Indian community and they have expressed their support of Makkal Osai as compared to the other mainstream Tamil newspapers as they are of the view that Makkal Osai is more transparent in its reporting and gives good coverage to news which otherwise would not make it to the other papers. This latest move would definitely anger the community even more towards the Federal Government which is currently led by Barisan Nasional. Attempts to curtail the people's paper (Makkal Osai) from being published further would be deemed as a further slap to the people's wishes for more freedom of expression and transparency to take place in this country.

Not only has the Barisan Nasional lost further points amongst their supporters who have left them during the recent elections to vote for Pakatan Rakyat candidates with this latest indefinite "gag order", they truly have shown to the world how lost they are in governing this country. Let's just see how they face the 100 or so employees of Makkal Osai who have now lost their jobs with a letter which needs no explanation.