KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA has imposed a ban on a leading Tamil-language newspaper critical of the government, its general manager said on Wednesday - a move the opposition called a 'crackdown on human rights'.

Mr S.M. Periasamy, general manager of the critical Makkal Osai daily, said that he had received a letter from the home ministry - which is in charge for internal security - saying the paper's annual permit would not be renewed.

'It means our daily has been banned,' he said.

Mr Periasamy said no reasons were given for the government action, adding that he would immediately appeal to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

'From tomorrow, the daily will not hit the streets. If we continue to publish, the directors could be jailed,' Mr Periasamy said.

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, said the newspaper had been banned for giving too much coverage for the opposition since it made stunning gains in March 8 general elections.

'It's the first sign of repression, a crackdown on human rights and the little space opening in the media after the March 8 political tsunami,' he said.

Mr Periasamy defended the daily's editorial policy, saying it was not biased.

'We give equal coverage to all. We are not biased and we focus on ethnic Indian issues in Malaysia,' he added.

Malaysia's media is largely state-linked and kept under tight control.