FM proposes ban on unkind press
FM proposes ban on unkind press
MALAYSIA: Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar called on Sunday for
a ban on publications that belittle the country, as official
anger mounted over remarks about Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
in the Economist.
"I think we have to take serious action," state-run news
agency Bernama quoted him as saying. "Why should we encourage
the sale of such magazines in our country?"
The minister did not see why offending publications should be
allowed to circulate locally, the agency reported.
In its April 5 issue, the weekly praised Mahathir for creating
a country better off than most of its Southeast Asian neighbors,
but said the 77-year-old had "dictatorial leanings".
Malaysia has shown its displeasure over unflattering press in
the past by delaying distribution of magazines such as the Far
Eastern Economic Review and Time. But it is generally more
tolerant of foreign media snubs than neighboring Singapore. --
Reuters
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ANPAu..r..
Aglance-Laos-US-rights
Laos evicts three families for not renouncing Christianity: RFA
JP/11/ASEAN
Laos evicts three Christian families
HANOI: Authorities in southern Laos have evicted three Christian
families from their homes for refusing to renounce their
religious beliefs, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA), in a move
condemned by the U.S. government.
The families, from Muang Phine district in Savannakhet
province, are now in the care of a Christian church after being
forced out of their homes in late March, the U.S. government-
funded network said in a report broadcast on Saturday.
The U.S. State Department official also cited reports that
Christians in the northern city Luang Prabang and elsewhere were
facing pressure from Lao authorities to renounce their faith or
face eviction or detention.
Some people have been arrested "just for speaking freely and
openly about their faith and in other parts of the country, Lao
Christians have been ordered to close their churches and to stop
their worship practices," he said. --AFP
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ANPAu..r..
Aglance-Malaysia-SARS
Malaysia quarantines 280 at psychiatric hospital over SARS fears
JP/11/ASEAN
KL quarantines 280 over SARS fears
MALAYSIA: Health officials on Sunday ordered the quarantine of at
least 280 workers and patients at a Malaysian psychiatric
hospital where three people have showed SARS symptoms.
Health Ministry Deputy Director General Ismail Merican said
three patients at the hospital in Kuching, the capital city of
Malaysia's Sarawak state on Borneo island, developed pneumonia-
like symptoms earlier this month.
It was too early to confirm whether the three patients had
contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS, as
authorities were still awaiting conclusive medical results,
Ismail told a news conference.
Ismail said officials at the hospital noted that one of their
patients was recently visited by family members from Hong Kong
shortly before the other three patients fell ill. But the
relatives have informed Malaysian officials that they had not
been sick, Ismail said. --DPA