Govt appealing decision to compensate The Edge

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is appealing a High Court’s decision that awarded RM11.2mil to publishing company The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd as compensation for losses it incurred following the three-month suspension of two of its publications three years ago.

The Edge sued the Home Ministry for loss of income after two of its publications were suspended by the Home Ministry for three months in 2015 over its reports on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue.

Senior Federal Counsel Alice Loke, who represented the Home Ministry secretary-general and the Home Minister, told the press about the government’s decision to appeal after a case management in chambers before High Court judge Justice Nordin Hassan yesterday.

“We think no damages should be awarded. That is the Government’s position. We want to have a look at how the deputy registrar assessed the damages and what were her considerations,” she said.

Loke added that The Edge was also appealing the dismissal of constitutional and aggravated damages it sought, which were not allowed by the registrar.

Loke said her office would seek the grounds of judgment regarding the damages decided upon by the High Court deputy registrar Norazlin Othman, who heard the appeal.

The court also fixed March 26 for further case management.

On Aug 9, 2017, the Federal Court ruled that The Edge could claim damages from the Home Minister for the losses incurred during the suspension.

The matter had been ordered to be remitted back to the High Court for damages to be assessed.

On Dec 17 last year, the High Court ordered the KDN secretary-general and the Home Minister to pay RM11,260,350 to The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily over their three-month suspension from July 27, 2015.

The court also ordered both respondents to pay 4% in interest beginning July 27, 2015 until the full settlement of the case.

The Home Ministry had suspended the publishing permit of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for three months from July 27, 2015. This was over publication of report relating to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

On Sept 21, 2015, the High Court quashed the suspension order after allowing The Edge’s judicial review application.