KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday granted a judicial review application by Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, the owner of news website ‘Malaysiakini’, to quash the Home Ministry’s decision to reject its permit application to start a newspaper.
In his ruling, Justice Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said there was misconception in the right to publication which was a privilege, and it was part of freedom of expression provisions in the constitution.
The judge also ordered the home minister, Home Ministry secretary-general and the Malaysian government, who were named as respondents in the application, to pay RM5,000 in costs to MKini Dotcom.
Speaking to reporters later, Mkini Dotcom’s counsel, K Shanmuga, said following the ruling, the court had asked the news website owner to refer back its application to the ministry for consideration, according to the law. — Bernama