YOURSAY 'The decision by justice Abang Iskandar is certainly most welcomed. And we congratulate Malaysiakini for taking up the fight and setting the path for others to follow.'

Malaysiakini wins court battle over print licence

Gerard Lourdesamy: High Court judge Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim is a Daniel come to justice.

He has discharged his constitutional duty without fear or favour and upheld the supremacy of the constitution over subjective ministerial discretion, which in this country is often used as an excuse to stifle freedom of speech, assembly and association on the spurious grounds of national security and public order - the latter being defined as the home minister preserving the vested interests of the ruling party and its elites from public scrutiny, censure and condemnation.

Kudos to the learned judge.

Rakyat-In-Grief: Justice has awakened! Thank you, judge Abang Iskandar for delivering justice without fear or favour.

Sir, you have earned your honour by standing up for truth and the rights of the people of Malaysia. The rakyat will be happy to note that they are slowly regaining the lost faith in our judiciary.

Durio Zibethinus: We are certainly seeing a new boldness in the judiciary at the High Court and lower courts. It's now up to the judges in the Court of Appeals and Federal Court to follow their example to bring respect back to the judiciary.

Dr Jag#04496187: If the Court of Appeals believes in Article 162(6) of the federal constitution, Malaysiakini will be in good shape.

Let's hope and pray the constitutional guarantees will be upheld instead of political persuasion.

Mohan Gandhi: I am sure the Home Ministry will appeal this decision. Subsequently, the decision will be overturned in the higher courts just like in so many other cases.

For now, we thank the judge for an eye-opening decision where even the AG (attorney-general) trying to appeal will have to think it through.

Ferdtan: This decision by justice Abang Iskandar is certainly most welcomed. It is a landmark and earth-shaking decision.

It is such a breath of fresh air to have a judge so clearly and eloquently ruled in favour of the right to freedom of expression, which also includes the right to a publication permit. And he added further that is a fundamental liberty enshrined in the constitution.

We may not see the day the Home Ministry acceding to the decision by the court, but at least the hopeful dawn can be felt.

We congratulate Malaysiakini for taking up the fight and setting the path for others to follow.

With all things equal, optimistically if Malaysiakini is allowed a printing licence, the monopolistic leading newspaper, The Star , would be no match for the newcomer.

Gunner: Believe me, very soon government agencies like JPM, AG, IRD, ROS, ROC, PDRM, BNM, CCM, Home Ministry, Jabatan Agama, Jabatan Penerbitan and whatever ‘jabatans', you name them, will convene a meeting to discuss on the next course of action to be taken against Malaysiakini .

They will go all out on fault-finding mission and in case nothing else can be done, they will collude with Perkasa and Perkida to employ gangsters to physically attack Malaysiakini .

Ann: I hate to put a damper on this, but does anyone still read print newspapers anymore?

Anonymous #53175304: Now Malaysiakini can reach more and more people out there. I do hope that it will be in the rural areas as well.

Karma: Wow, after abandoning my 20 years' loyalty to New Straits Times , I will now have to revive my 'must buy newspaper' habit.

I used to try The Star . But it made me puke. Thanks, Malaysiakini . It is the right time. Send it to our homes, if you can. By subscription, of course.

Az: Indeed, when Malaysiakini has a print newspaper, we will start reading print newspapers again!

Dood: If Malaysiakini needs assurance that it will have subscribers for its print edition (to help attract advertisers and raise public confidence), you should consider having a ‘pre-order' type deal for subscribers. I would totally sign up for it.

Kee Thuan Chye: Congratulations Malaysiakini ! The tide is a-changin'. The judges are waking up, judging by a few of their recent judgments.

Mushiro: This is a slap on the face of the home minister. But the home minister will now delay the approval once Malaysiakini submits its application. This is how they have been running this country - like it is their father's right.

Vijay47: In any developed, progressive country, the right to publish a newspaper would have been as natural as the sun rising every morning.

But in Malaysia, this basic freedom, guaranteed by the constitution itself, is withheld from its people by evil men, and can be obtained only after prolonged fights and battles against an executive branch that believes that theirs is the liberty to do as they please. Such is the arrogance of entrenched power.

Weary as you may be, Malaysiakini , the luxury of rest is not yet for you. More skirmishes, more struggle, perhaps more despair, await before you can truly say you have won, that the war is over.

So be it. Ultimately, the good fight has to be fought, and when you have finished the race, victory will be with you. For you kept the faith.

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