JUDGMENT
Introduction
[1] This petition arose out of the decision of the High Court in an application for judicial review No WA-25-204-10-2014 ('JR No 204') wherein the present petitioner (the applicant there) sought to challenge the validity of a fatwa dated 17 July 2014 (ref no MAIS/SU/BUU/01-2/002/2013-3(4) and gazetted on 31 July 2014) ('Fatwa'). For completeness, the Fatwa is reproduced below:
"FATWA PEMIKIRAN LIBERALISM DAN PLURALISM AGAMA.
1. SIS FORUM (Malaysia) dan mana-mana individu, pertubuhan, atau institusi yang berpegang kepada fahaman liberalism dan pluralism agama adalah sesat dan menyeleweng daripada ajaran Islam.
2. Mana-mana bahan terbitan yang berunsur pemikiran-pemikiran fahaman liberalism dan pluralism agama hendaklah diharamkan dan boleh dirampas.
3. Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) hendaklah menyekat laman-laman sosial yang bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam dan Hukum Syarak.
4. Mana-mana individu yang berpegang kepada fahaman liberalism dan pluralism agama hendaklah bertaubat dan kembali ke jalan Islam."
[2] In the JR No 204 application, the petitioner sought, among others, for the following declarations: (i) to the extent the Fatwa implicitly provides for offences in relation to newspaper, publications, publishers, printing and printing presses, it is contrary to s 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984; (ii) to the extent it directs Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission ('MCMC') to block social website, is contrary to s 3(3) of the MCMC Act 1998; (iii) a declaration that the Fatwa is in excess of arts 10, 11, 74 and List 1 and List 2 of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution; and (iv) a declaration that the petitioner being a company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 or any other party not able to profess the religion of Islam, cannot be subjected to the said Fatwa.