The Edge Media Group will not be appealing against the High Court's decision to dismiss its application for a stay of the suspension of both The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily.
"We respect the decision of the court and will not be appealing against it. Together with our lawyers, we will instead focus on preparing for the Sept 7 hearing of the judicial review of the Home Ministry's decision," it said in a statement today.
The group however did express its disappointment with the High Court’s decision.
"(This is) because it effectively means that we will now be deprived of the full benefit of the remedy of judicial review.
"Even if we were to subsequently succeed in quashing the decision to suspend our publication permits, it will now be practically meaningless because most, if not all, of the period of suspension would have elapsed."
The media group further stressed that it had always contended that its application for judicial review was to "preserve the fundamental liberties of freedom of speech and expression which are guaranteed by the Federal Constitution".
The group also expressed disappointment that no reasons had been given by the respondents as to how or why its articles on 1MDB could be said to be "prejudicial to or likely to be prejudicial to public order, security or likely to alarm public opinion or be prejudicial to public interest or national interest".
“This is because no affidavit was filed by the respondents in resisting our application for a stay,” it said.
Following the High Court’s decision today, the government's suspension of both the financial newspapers for three months from July 27 remains.
Justice Asmabi Mohamad had accepted the reasons given by senior federal counsel Alice Loke.
The judge ruled there is no irreparable harm in the court not granting a stay as the papers will be ably compensated if the judicial review is later allowed.
In its application, the media group wanted an order to quash the suspension, following a letter issued by the ministry on July 23. It also asked that the publications be granted interim stay of the suspension order.
The Edge owner Tong Kooi Ong and its CEO Ho Kay Tat are also being probed under Section 124B of the Penal Code for alleged activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
