SISTEM KEADILAN JENAYAH : KES KUASA BUDI BICARA MENTERI DALAM NEGERI!

[1990] 1 MLJ 351
Minister of Home Affairs v Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara

Facts:

In this case, the respondents had applied for a permit under s 6(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 to print and publish in Bahasa Malaysia a magazine under the name and style of Seruan Aliran. The application was refused by the Minister of Home Affairs. The respondents applied for an order of certiorari to remove into the High Court for the purpose of quashing the decision of the Minister and for an order of mandamus directing the Minister to hear and determine the application for the permit according to law. The High Court made an order quashing the decision of the Minister and ordered that the Minister shall hear and determine according to law the application for the permit. [See [1988] 1 MLJ 440.] The appellant appealed.

Holdings:
Held allowing the appeal:

(1) Section 12(2) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 gives the Minister of Home Affairs ‘absolute discretion to refuse an application for a licence or permit’. So unless it can be clearly established that the Minister for Home Affairs had in any way exercised his discretion wrongfully, unfairly, dishonestly or in bad faith, the High Court cannot question the discretion of the Minister.

(2) On the information that was before him, it could not be said that the Minister of Home Affairs had acted with any impropriety in exercising his discretion in rejecting the respondent’s application for a permit. There is no evidence that the Minister was in any way prejudiced or biased or had acted in bad faith. It also cannot be said that the Minister had acted contrary to the rules of natural justice. He had considered the written application of the respondent for a permit and had taken all relevant considerations into account as set out in his affidavit before he arrived at his decision to reject the application.

(3) There is nothing in evidence to show that the Minister had taken irrelevant matters into consideration or that he had acted without any or in excess of his authority. There is no evidence on which the respondent can base its claim for quashing the decision of the Minister on the ground of illegality, irrationality or procedural impropriety.

(4) The Minister of Home Affairs had also in no way infringed any provision of the Federal Constitution or the National Language Act 1963/67.

Bahasa Malaysia Summary:

Diputuskan:
Diputuskan, membenarkan rayuan:

(1) Section 12(2) Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan 1984 memberi Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri ‘budi bicara mutlak menolak permohonan mendapat lesen atau permit’. Oleh kerana itu, Mahkamah Tinggi tidak boleh menyoal budi bicara Menteri itu melainkan adanya bukti jelas bahawa Menteri itu dengan apa cara pun telah menggunakan budi bicaranya dengan salah, tidak adil atau tidak jujur atau dengan niat jahat.

(2) Memandangkan maklumat yang dihadapkan kepadanya, tidak boleh dikatakan bahawa Menteri itu telah bertindak secara sumbang bila ia menggunakan budioleh bicaranya menolak permohonan pihak responden. Tidak ada bukti yang menunjukkan bahawa Menteri itu telah dipengaruhi oleh prasangka atau bertindak dengan berat sebelah atau dengan niat jahat. Menteri itu juga tidak boleh dikatakan telah bertindak menentang peraturan keadilan asasi. Beliau telah mempertimbangkan permohonan bertulis yang dikemukakan oleh responden dan telah mengambilkira semua hujah yang bersangkutan sebelum membuat keputusannya. Ini boleh dilihat dengan jelas dalam afidavitnya.

(3) Tidak terdapat apa-apa keterangan yang menunjukkan bahawa Menteri itu telah mengambilkira perkara-perkara yang tidak berkaitan atau beliau telah bertindak tanpa atau melebihi kuasa. Tidak ada keterangan yang boleh digunakan oleh responden untuk menyokong permohonannya supaya keputusan itu dibatalkan atas alasan kepenyalahan undang-undang, tidak menurut akal fikiran yang rasional atau kesalahan acara.

(4) Menteri itu juga tidak sama sekali melanggar apa–apa peruntukan di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan atau Akta Bahasa Kebangsaan 1963/1967.]

Penghuni Gua : Semuga semua pembaca dan pelajar dapat menafaat dari kes ini tentang bidang kuasa dan kuasa budi bicara Menteri ( Menteri Dalam Negeri ) mengikut Akta Mesin Cetak.

2. Kita semua tidak perlu menjadi pakar dalam sesuatu bidang untuk memahami sesuatu perkara tetapi sekurang-kurangnya kita mengetahui dan faham apa yang kita debat dan bincangkan.