KEPALA BATAS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has accepted the New Straits Times’ (NST) front-page apology over a cartoon it published last Monday.
Abdullah said no action would be taken against the newspaper following its open apology yesterday.
"The NST has conceded to the Government's decision and I take it that they are very regretful over the issue," he said after opening a seminar for teachers at Pusat Budi Penyayang here yesterday.
"The issue is considered settled," he said, adding that the cartoon was not connected to the offensive Danish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.
On Wednesday, the NST was issued a show cause letter by the Internal Security Ministry for publishing the cartoon.
On RTM's Feb 3 screening of the Danish caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, Abdullah said: "I have heard about it, but let me get full details first."
It was reported that TV2’s 8pm Mandarin news aired a news clip that showed close-ups of the caricatures.
Abdullah said government action against those who published the Danish caricatures was reported nationwide.
"The editors know. After being given messages and reminders, this should not have happened."
The Government recently suspended Sarawak Tribune for publishing the Danish caricatures of the Prophet. It also took firm action against Guang Ming's afternoon edition for printing a photograph of people reading a newspaper with the caricatures.
In Kuala Lumpur, Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said RTM would give its full cooperation in investigation into the Feb 3 incident and ensure it did not recur.
"What happened has given us a better realisation of press freedom with social responsibility," he said.
Zainuddin described the NST's apology as a good response, saying he welcomed Abdullah's statement that the matter is resolved.
Meanwhile, about 500 PAS and Keadilan supporters protested outside the NST office in Jalan Riong against the publication of the Feb 20 cartoon. The group had marched from Jalan Tandok after Friday prayers.
More than 150 policemen were stationed at the office since noon. PAS vice-president Husam Musa, its Youth leader Salahuddin Ayub and Keadilan Youth vice-chief Shamsul Iskandar later handed over a memorandum of protest to NST's senior marketing manager Wan Abdillah Wan Nawawi.
