Printing Presses and Publications Act

Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984
Parliament of Malaysia
An Act to regulate the use of printing presses and the printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing and distribution of publications and for matters connected therewith.
Citation	Act 301
Territorial extent	Malaysia
Enacted by	Dewan Rakyat
Date passed	28 March 1984
Enacted by	Dewan Negara
Date passed	16 April 1984
Date of Royal Assent	27 June 1984
Date commenced	28 June 1984
Date effective	1 September 1984, P.U. (B) 364/1984
Legislative history
Bill introduced in the Dewan Rakyat	Printing Presses and Publications Bill 1984
Bill citation	D.R. 15/1984
Introduced by	Mohd. Kassim Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
First reading	16 March 1984
Second reading	28 March 1984
Third reading	28 March 1984
Bill introduced in the Dewan Negara	Printing Presses and Publications Bill 1984
Bill citation	D.R. 15/1984
Introduced by	Mohd. Kassim Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
First reading	9 April 1984
Second reading	13 April 1984
Third reading	16 April 1984
Amendments
Printing Presses and Publications (Amendment) Act 1987 [Act A684] Printing Presses and Publications (Amendment) Act 2012 [Act A1436]
Related legislation
Printing Presses Act 1948 [Act 58] Control of Imported Publications Act 1958 [Act 63]
Keywords
Printing press, publications
Status: In force

The Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Malay: Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984) is a Malaysian statute governing the usage of printing presses and the printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing and distribution of publications in Malaysia. It replaced the Printing Presses Act 1948 and the Control of Imported Publications Act 1958 (Revised 1972). Under the controversial law, all printing presses require a licence granted by the Home Affairs Minister, renewed every year.

The Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, in its current form (1 September 2012), consists of 5 Parts containing 27 sections and 2 schedules (including 2 amendments).

The Act provides that it is a criminal offense to possess or use a printing press without a licence granted by the Home Affairs Minister. The Minister is given "absolute discretion" in the granting and revocation of licences, and can also restrict or ban outright publications that is likely to endanger national security interest or create social unrest. Should one possess or use an unlicensed printing press, he may be imprisoned for up to three years and/or fined up to RM20,000. A deposit made under Section 10 of the Act will also be forfeited in such a case.

The Home Affairs Minister is given "absolute discretion" to grant, revoke or suspend permits "to any person to print and publish a newspaper in Malaysia" or "to any proprietor of any newspaper in Singapore allowing such newspaper to be imported, sold, circulated or distributed in Malaysia." Permits are normally granted for the period of one year, and cannot be transferred without the permission of the Minister. Should one print, import, publish sell, circulate or distribute — or even offer to do any of those things — a newspaper without a permit from the Minister, it will be deemed an offense punishable by up to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to RM20,000.

There has been quite a debate on the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 in Malaysia. Although the law was meant to maintain genuine news stories, create a regulated press sector, and provide legal guidelines to reporters, some say that the legislation is restricting political discourse, silencing political opponents and manipulating the news delivered to consumers.

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