It isn't just publishers that are benefiting. At one Kuala Lumpur street stall, one mother-daughter team says they sold more than 500 T-shirts bearing a smiling, cross-legged bin Laden since the attacks last month.
That tripled their normal monthly take from souvenirs promoting the opposition National Justice Party to more than 10,000 ringgit, said the daughter, who gave her name only as Zai.
Sales have been even brisker since the US last week began attacking targets in Afghanistan.
"Everyone is talking about Afghanistan and Osama now," said Sal, another vendor, who also gave only her first name. "We must take the opportunity to sell while everyone is still interested. People may not care about the issue later.''
Journalists in the mainstream press agree.
"It's a dream come true for these businessmen," said Zaini Harun, an editor for Utusan Malaysia. "They don't compete with us -- and they will fade away."
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