The Sun Daily
by Hemananthani Sivanandam
by Hemananthani Sivanandam
KUALA
LUMPUR (April 18, 2012): The Printing Presses and Publications
(Amendment) Bill 2012 which was tabled today, will see less restrictions
imposed on the local publishing industry.
The
bill which was tabled by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop,
seeks to remove the absolute discretion of the Minister in granting a
person a permit to print or publish a newspaper in Malaysia or in
granting the proprietor of any newspaper in Singapore a permit to
import, sell, circulate or distribute their newspaper in Malaysia.
Under
the bill, newspaper proprietors will be given an opportunity to be
heard before a decision to revoke or suspend their licence or permit is
made.
The
bill also seeks to remove the prohibition of a judicial review on the
decision of the Minister to grant, refuse, revoke or suspend a licence
or permit. The Minister will also no longer be able to specify the
validity period of a licence.
However
the Minister still has the power to grant licences or refuse such
applications as he deems fit. His authority to revoke or suspend
licences also stays.
A
licence or permit granted under this bill shall be subject to
conditions stipulated in the licence and shall remain valid for so long
as it is not revoked.
On
Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak announced that a
new law will replace the existing Printing Presses and Publications Act
1984 - as part of the government's reform efforts.
He
added that the new bill will live up to the government's promise to
eliminate the need for yearly renewal of newspaper licences. Instead a
media council will be established to implement self-regulation in the
industry.
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