KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 31 -- The government maintains that journalists are free to ask any questions in the course of their duties, said government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, following a recent controversy involving Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and a journalist from Utusan Malaysia.

According to the national daily, Fahmi said the matter was raised at today's Cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, during which he reiterated the government's clear position that the media must be allowed to perform their duties without restriction.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself has always been open to all questions, and the government maintains that journalists have every right to...