BERNAMA

10 JANUARI, 2000 18:05PM

JASIN, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry will come down hard on owners of premises selling Harakah to non-PAS members, its Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Seri Abu Zahar Isnin said today.

Although the premises might be licensed to sell the PAS publication, its distribution was limited to PAS members only, he said.

The ministry had adequate manpower to monitor the sale and distribution of Harakah, he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house in Merlimau here.

"The sale is allowed only at approved premises, and we will act if it is sold openly at newsstands without authorisation," he said.

Abu Zahar said the ministry had seized copies of Harakah which were sold to the public recently. "We have been too flexible and given them a chance and this thing eventually hit back at us, and as such we will no longer compromise on this," he said.

Abu Zahar also said the ministry had asked the Islamic Development Department to advise state governments that speakers at mosques should get their prior approval. The state governments through the state Islamic religious departments could outline procedures for these speakers to follow to prevent them from indulging in acts of running down the government, he said.

Action would be taken against those who violated the regulations laid down by state Islamic departments, he said.