Opposition newspapers banned as Malaysia clampdown looms

Source: The Telegraph

Two newspapers linked to Malaysia's leading opposition parties have been banned for three months - days before the country appoints a new prime minister.

The print media has long been strictly controlled in the semi- authoritarian country, ruled by the same government for each of its 51 years of independence, but in recent years opposition papers had been granted limited licences.

On Monday afternoon "Harakah", which is linked to the Islamic party PAS, and "Suara Keadilan" of the secular Keadilan party received letters ordering them to close for three months.

Later this week the ruling United Malays Nation Organisation (UMNO) will hold a party conference where the hardline deputy prime minister Najib Razak will be anointed prime minister.



Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/5042065/Opposition-newspapers-banned-as-Malaysia-clampdown-looms.html

I guess I'll just have to keep my head down. :( Scary times.

good luck with your trip.

Even if they were business trips, I love the people, the food, and the culture. But this recent resurgence of fundamentalism is really making it hard to tout MY as one of the few enjoyable Islamic countries in SE Asia to visit.

(could be relevent - in case it hasn't been posted - )

A FRENCH arms company is at the centre of a deepening scandal involving the sale of three submarines, the murder of a beautiful Mongolian interpreter and the man most likely to become prime minister of Malaysia next month.

(snip)

She became the mistress of a Malaysian political fixer and was allegedly trying to extort money from him at the time of her violent demise.

Two members of an elite Malaysian police unit that protects top politicians are on trial in Kuala Lumpur, accused of shooting her in the jungle and then blowing up her body with military explosives.

(snip)

Testimony in an earlier court case has established an intimate personal and financial connection between the dead woman and a close aide to Najib, who was minister of defence at the time of the submarine deal.

(more...)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5950217.ece

Arms company wants to sell something big to another country.

They pay off member of government of that country (107 m).

Ex- girl friend of the guy paid off wants a slice of the action.

Elite police blow her brains out.