Kota Kinabalu: DAP MP Dr Hiew King Cheu has urged the authorities to investigate if a new tabloid calling itself The New Sulu Times (Suara Tausug) is being published in compliance with its purported permit.
The 12-page newspaper being sold at RM1.80 per copy was handed to him by a complainant on Tuesday.
Written in the Tausug language and Bahasa Malaysia, the newspaper printed the Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) permit number-1-20-Julai-KDN: PQ/PP1506(307).
"Why is a Sulu paper permitted to be published and sold openly in Sabah?
The content of the paper is about the Sulu Sultan, IMM13, and the street children issue, etc. Is it true that it has obtained the permit from the KDN?
"More important is whether it is following the guidelines stated in the permit?" he asked.
If the format of the newspaper is as it is being printed now, the general reaction of the public is that it should not be allowed to be published at all, he said.
Hiew called on the Home Affairs Minister to explain the reason the publication permit was issued as well as the conditions for the permit.