KUALA LUMPUR: Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the Pas mouthpiece, Harakah, could appeal on the media pass withdrawal decision by the Information Department (JaPen).
RTM reported that the minister today hinted that the media portal had violated existing terms and conditions in getting the media pass.
"JaPen definitely has its reasons for taking such action.
"However, Harakah and anyone who may be affected by this withdrawal decision can appeal and have it reviewed," Fahmi said to reporters when met at an event today.
It was reported that JaPen revoked the media accreditation card of the Harakah journalist after the media portal was believed to have published an article displaying a photo of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with an Israeli flag.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday issued a stern warning, saying he would not tolerate any disrespectful statements made towards him that violated decorum.
"(I) will also not hesitate to take strong action against anyone if such slander is repeated.
"(And) this (the slander) is what I call building a castle on the grave. People are dying, and we work every day to bring the case (to justice) by calling for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold a conference and discussions with other counterparts like China, Russia, Brazil, Ireland and Japan," he said at the Dewan Rakyat.
Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said this was the first time the publication had received such an order from the department since the former premier's administration.
"I acknowledge the warning given by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Harakah; however, we received a letter today (Nov 7) from the department saying that the media passes for our reporters have been revoked.
"This is an incident that we have never experienced since the time of 'mahazalim' previously," he said during his debate session on the 2024 Supply Bill at the committee level in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.