There is no valid earthly reason for the Barisan Nasional government to restrict the sale of the PAS bulletin Harakah to the public. There is no justification whatsoever for insisting that its circulation be confined to PAS' membership only. Many party publications in other countries throughout the world are available to all citizens, not just party members.

What is the rationale for imposing this undemocratic ruling? Why shouldn't ordinary citizens read the Harakah to be informed of PAS' policies and programmes? What harm can possibly befall this nation by allowing Malaysians access to a publication that gives the other side of the story?

In a democracy, citizens should not be denied their fundamental right of free access to information. It is only when information, both pertaining to government and opposition, is freely accessible that citizens will be able to make an intelligent decision. Only well-informed citizens will be able to differentiate between propaganda and fact, to discern the truth, and make meaningful choices.

Obviously, the government is not interested in or concerned about the emergence of an enlightened citizenry. A thinking and critical citizenry, it seems, is inimical to the BN's existence and therefore it must be contained by whatever means.

Thinking Malaysians will ask why it is only PAS and the DAP that are required to confine their party matters to party members, thus denying Malaysians any access to news about their programmes and policies. Why isn't the ruling equally applicable to all the BN coalition parties? Why is it that every time UMNO holds its General Assembly - a three-day affair - so much time is allotted to radio and television to carry the proceedings to non-UMNO members? Why are the presidential address, the daily proceedings, and the closing speeches beamed into the sitting rooms of households at the expense of the taxpaying rakyat? Why do other programmes have to make way for the annual UMNO party affair? Why should their party function be part of the everyday life of the entire nation?

It is not only radio and television that are made use of as if they belong to UMNO. The BN-controlled newspapers - which resemble party organs disguised as independent newspapers - go on a rampage, publishing page after page of the assembly's proceedings including trivial banter and silly retorts among delegates. Why should Malaysians be bombarded with this unrestrained party propaganda? Why should public facilities and government employees be deployed to give so much coverage?

If the BN government wants to convince Malaysians that there is no bias or discrimination in their ruling requiring party matters to be confined to party members and that this ruling is equally and impartially applied to all political parties, it must prove its sincerity through it actions. It must henceforth desist from abusing public facilities for party matters. If the BN is not capable of conducting itself impartially, fairly, justly, honestly and honourably, then concerned Malaysians must force their hands to do so.

If in May when the UMNO General Assembly is held and the proceedings are beamed 'live', thinking Malaysians should switch off their radio and television sets. They should stop buying BN-controlled newspapers for three days when their pages are filled with UMNO party matters. This is the only way to confront an undemocratic and silly ruling. This is the only way to send a strong signal that we have had enough of their crap.