Definition of Newspaper
A newspaper refers to any published material containing news, explanations, event reports, opinions, observations, or commentary related to any news, explanations, or events, or any other matters of public interest. This includes magazines, comics, or other periodic publications printed in any language for sale or free distribution, whether regularly or irregularly. However, it does not include any publication issued by or for the Federal Government, any State Government, or the Government of Singapore.

Offense of Printing, Importing, and Publishing Without a Permit
It is an offense to print, import, publish, etc., a newspaper without a permit.

No person shall print, import, publish, sell, circulate, distribute, or offer to publish, sell, circulate, or distribute any newspaper printed in Malaysia or Singapore unless a permit has been granted by the Minister for that newspaper.

Any person who:

(a) prints any newspaper for which no permit has been granted or for which the permit has been canceled or suspended; or
(b) imports, publishes, sells, circulates, distributes, or offers to publish, sell, circulate, or distribute, or possesses for such purposes, any newspaper printed in Malaysia or Singapore for which no permit has been granted or for which the permit has been canceled or suspended,

is committing an offense and, upon conviction, may be subject to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit, or both.

Types of Publishing Permits

There are two types of publishing permits under the provisions of AMCP 1984:

Publishing Permit (Malaysia)

Section 6(1)(a) AMCP 1984: A permit granted to any person to print and publish a newspaper in Malaysia.

Examples of Publishing Permit Numbers:

• PP 15.../02/2009(02....) – Peninsular Malaysia
• PPK 15.../02/2009(02....) – Sarawak
• PPH 15.../02/2009(02....) – Sabah

Publishing Permit (Singapore)

Section 6(1)(b) AMCP 1984: A permit granted to the owner of any newspaper in Singapore, allowing that newspaper to be imported, sold, or distributed in Malaysia.

Example of Publishing Permit Number:

• PPS 15.../02/2009(02....) – Singapore

Exemptions from Publishing Permit

• One-Off Publication:
  • Non-periodical publications.
• Publications by the Government:
  • Any document or periodical published by or for the Federal Government, any State Government, or any Statutory Body under Section 25(1) of AMCP 1984.
• Ministerial Exemptions:
  • Publications exempted by Ministerial order published in the Gazette under Section 25(2) of AMCP 1984.

Applicants

• Private Limited (Sdn. Bhd.) or Public Limited (Bhd.) Companies
  • The applicant must be a member of the Board of Directors or the Company Secretary whose name appears in Form 49.
• Sole Proprietorships or Partnerships
  • The applicant must be a principal partner or a partner whose name appears in Form A or Form B.
• Organizations/Associations/Cooperatives, etc.
  • The application must be submitted in the name of the Chairman/President/Secretary.
• Regional/International Organizations
  • The application must be submitted in the name of their representative.

Permit Fees

Payments can be made via bank draft or money order based on the publication frequency as follows: