The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Malaysia: Printing Presses and Publications Act amended to bar court review of publishing permits, 1987

MalaysiaRSF 2026 rank: 95th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

Malaysia's government amended the Printing Presses and Publications Act in 1987 to expand its power to ban or restrict publications and to bar any court challenge to the suspension or revocation of a publishing permit. The change came the same year Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government arrested 106 opposition politicians and activists in an operation known by the codename Lalang.1234

What happened

Malaysia's Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984 already required every newspaper and periodical to hold an annual publishing permit issued by the government. In 1987 the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad amended the act to make the publication of what it called malicious news a punishable offense, to expand the government's power to ban or restrict publications, and to prohibit any court challenge to the suspension or revocation of a publishing permit. The amendment came the same year Mahathir's government carried out a wide arrest operation known by the codename Lalang, a Malay word for a weed. In October 1987 Mahathir ordered the arrest of 106 people, including politicians from the opposition Democratic Action Party and Parti Islam Se Malaysia, along with human rights activists, under the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial. Malaysia's courts had shown some willingness to review the legality of the government's actions, but Mahathir responded by removing five high court judges and introducing a provision barring judicial review of security detentions.152346

What reason was given

Stated justification

Malaysian officials did not state, in the sources reviewed here, a specific public reason for the 1987 amendment beyond barring the publication of what the law itself called "malicious news."152346

What changed for reporting

The United States State Department later said government power over licensing and other policies helped create "an atmosphere that inhibits independent or investigative journalism and results in extensive self-censorship."5

Timeline

1987

1987
Malaysia: Printing Presses and Publications Act amended to bar court review of publishing permits, 1987

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Government of MalaysialegislatedGovernment of Malaysia
Mahathir MohamadorderedPrime Minister of Malaysia

Sources

  1. 1997 Human Rights Report: MalaysiaU.S. Department of State, 1998, reporting. Source record
  2. Detained Without Trial: Abuse of Internal Security Act Detainees in MalaysiaHuman Rights Watch, 2005-09-26, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. The Printing Presses and Publications Act was amended in 1987 to make the publication of "malicious news" a punishable offense, expand the government's power to restrict publications, and bar court challenges to permit suspensions.The act was amended in 1987 to make the publication of "malicious news" a punishable offense, expand the Government's power to ban or restrict publications, and prohibit court challenges to suspension or revocation of publication permits.1997 Human Rights Report: Malaysia, U.S. Department of State, 1998.Claim 978, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. Mahathir ordered the arrest of 106 people, including opposition politicians and human rights activists.Mahathir ordered the arrest of 106 people, including human rights activists and politicians from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Islam Se MalaysiaDetained Without Trial: Abuse of Internal Security Act Detainees in Malaysia, Human Rights Watch, 2005-09-26.Claim 980, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. The October 1987 arrests were carried out under the operational codename Lalang.These arrests took place under the operational codename lalangDetained Without Trial: Abuse of Internal Security Act Detainees in Malaysia, Human Rights Watch, 2005-09-26.Claim 981, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. Malaysia's courts had shown a willingness to review the legality of Mahathir's actions and allegations against him before the 1987 restrictions on judicial review.Malaysia's courts initially expressed a willingness to review the legality of his actions, as well as allegations of corruption against Mahathir.Detained Without Trial: Abuse of Internal Security Act Detainees in Malaysia, Human Rights Watch, 2005-09-26.Claim 982, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. Government power over publishing licenses and other policies created "an atmosphere that inhibits independent or investigative journalism and results in extensive self-censorship."Government power over license renewal and other policies create an atmosphere that inhibits independent or investigative journalism and results in extensive self-censorship.1997 Human Rights Report: Malaysia, U.S. Department of State, 1998.Claim 979, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. Mahathir removed five high court judges and introduced a provision forbidding judicial review of security detentions.Mahathir responded by removing five high court judges, including then-Chief Justice Tun Salleh Abbas, and introduced section 8B of the ISA, which forbids judicial review of ISA detentionsDetained Without Trial: Abuse of Internal Security Act Detainees in Malaysia, Human Rights Watch, 2005-09-26.Claim 983, checked 2026-09-26.