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Rights group hails court decision on Malaysiakini’s print edition

A human rights group has welcomed the Court of Appeal's decision today in supporting online portal Malaysiakini's right to publish a print edition, describing it a victory for freedom of expression.

Human Rights Watch for Asia said the decision was the first step in addressing the role of the government in controlling the print media.

"Just as Malaysiakini was a pioneer in developing credible, independent online news reporting, we hope this judicial decision will open the door for it to play the same role among the country’s printed newspapers," said its deputy director Phil Robertson.

In a unanimous decision today, the Court of Appeal dismissed Putrajaya's appeal against a High Court ruling that Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, which operates Malaysiakini, be given a publication permit.

The High Court had earlier quashed the Home Ministry's decision not to grant a publication permit to Mkini Dotcom to publish a daily.

Lawyer K. Shamuga appeared for Mkini Dotcom while senior federal counsel Noor Hisham Ismail appeared for the government.

Robertson expressed hoped that the Home Ministry would realise that it should stop "executive fiat to bar publishing of news which they do not like".

"Such censorship through administrative action is odious to respect for basic human rights and doesn't belong in modern Malaysia," he added.

Mkini Dotcom had applied for a newspaper permit under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, but the application was rejected by the Home Ministry in August 2010.

It then mounted a legal challenge to quash the minister's decision, naming the ministry secretary-general, the Home Minister and the government as respondents. - October 30, 2013.