THE Government ban on one of Asia's most popular television series, Justice Pao, appears to have created a rift within the ruling National Front.
Following criticism of the ban by youth leaders of Chinese parties in the coalition, the president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, Ling Liong Sik, said he planned to bring the matter up at the next Cabinet meeting.
He said the association - the second largest party in the Government - planned to raise the issue in a meeting with Information Ministry officials.
But the Minister of Information, Mohamed Rahmat, said there was no need for further discussion on the issue.
Mr Rahmat denied the Government was being racist by banning the Taiwan-made series.
The ban has prompted criticism within the Chinese community and among Malay intellectuals.
The National Film Censorship Board gave the new privately owned station, MetroVision, approval to screen Justice Pao but the Ministry of Information overruled the censors shortly before the first episode was due to go to air.
