The Minister's discretion in imposing publication conditions must adhere to constitutional standards, balancing public order against fundamental freedoms.

[1] This is an application for leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal dated 14 October 2013 in allowing the respondents appeal against the decision of the High Court. A number of questions of law were posed by the applicant and are divided into three parts. (see Appendix)

Facts

[2] The applicant is the publisher of "Herald - the Catholic Weekly" (the Herald). The Herald is published on behalf of the Bishops of Peninsular Malaysia pursuant to a publication permit (the permit) issued by the 1st respondent under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (the Act).

[3] The 1st respondent is the Minister charged with the responsibility of regulating the publishing and distribution of publications under the Act (the Minister).

[4] The 2nd respondent is the Government of Malaysia.

[5] The 3rd to 7th and the 9th respondents are the Islamic Councils of the States of Terengganu, Wilayah Persekutuan, Melaka, Johor, Kedah and Selangor. The 8th respondent is the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association.

[6] The applicant was granted a publication permit by the Minister vide letter dated 30 December 2008 to publish the Herald in four languages, namely Bahasa Melayu, English, Tamil and Chinese. The relevant part of the permit reads:

"KELULUSAN PERMOHONAN PERMIT PENERBITAN.

...

2. Sukacita dimaklumkan permohonan tuan telah diluluskan dengan bersyarat seperti butiran di bawah:

i) Penerbitan dalam Bahasa Melayu tidak dibenarkan sehingga keputusan mahkamah berkaitan kes penggunaan kalimah "ALLAH" diputuskan.

ii) Penerbitan ini hendaklah dijual di gereja sahaja.

iii) Di muka surat depan majalah mestilah memaparkan "Bacaan ini hanya untuk penganut agama Kristian sahaja."

[7] Aggrieved with the conditions imposed by the Minister, the applicant then wrote to the Minister vide letter dated 2 January 2009 requesting the Minister to reconsider the decision and revoke the aforesaid conditions. The relevant part of the letter reads:

"We are therefore advised and verily believe that this condition constitutes a serious violation of our constitutional freedom of expression and speech. It also prohibits and/or diminishes the rights of the citizens of this country to express themselves and communicate in the national language in clear contravention of the spirit and intent of the National Language Act 1967. Further connecting the matter of the publication in Bahasa Malaysia with the determination of the pending judicial review proceedings is not only grossly unreasonable, irrational and illegal but also reeks of ill-will and bad faith in that this condition serves as a form of retribution or punishment on account of our filing of the pending judicial review proceedings in the High Court.

...

We therefore seek that you reconsider your decision and revoke the conditions cited in your letter under reference."

[8] In reply, the Minister vide letter dated 7 January 2009 to the applicant, after reconsidering his decision, approved the permit for publication subject to the condition that the applicant be prohibited from using the word "Allah". The letter reads:

"KELULUSAN PERMOHONAN PERMIT PENERBITAN "HERALD - THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY"

...

2. Untuk makluman pihak tuan, Bahagian ini telah membuat pertimbangan semula ke atas kelulusan permohonan permit penerbitan bagi penerbitan dengan tajuk di atas dan keputusannya adalah seperti berikut:

i) Permohonan penerbitan dalam Bahasa Melayu adalah dibenarkan, namun demikian, penggunaan kalimah "ALLAH" adalah dilarang sehingga mahkamah membuat keputusan mengenai perkara tersebut.

ii) Di halaman hadapan penerbitan ini, tertera perkataan "TERHAD" yang membawa maksud p