Bid to seek approval for Christian radio licence
Published on: Friday, July 14, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: A PhD holder has filed for a judicial review in the High Court here to seek a reply and approval from the Government pertaining to his licence application to operate a Christian radio station in Sabah and Sarawak.Yun Vun Heu @ Ronnie, a local from Kota Belud, named the Director of the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia as the sole respondent in his application filed through counsel Marcel Jude via e-filing.He is seeking an order of mandamus to compel the respondent, whether by himself or his Ministry or his officer or servant or agent, to duly consider and to duly approve the application of the applicant for the licence to operate a Christian radio station in Sabah and Sarawak.ADVERTISEMENT He is also seeking costs, statutory interest and any other relief deemed fit by the court. The hearing of the ex-parte application has been set for hearing on July 28.In his statement, Yun claimed that he has been working on a project to establish a Christian radio station in Sabah and Sarawak. To establish and operate such a radio station requires a great deal of tactical work and investment in radio and communication technology and other aspects of operating radio communication, he said, adding that it was not a project one can take lightly because of the amount of investment and the nature of the mobilisation and set-up works.ADVERTISEMENT Therefore, as a prudent measure and as advised by the Ministry, the first step is to secure approvals from the respondent, namely the Minister, claimed Yun.The applicant therefore proceeded to approach the Minister but claimed that there was a lack of response.
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"In addition to the right of freedom of speech and expression, my application also involves the freedom of religion espoused and enshrined in the Federal Constitution," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He wrote a letter to the ministry on May 22, this year but claimed that to date there has been no response to his said letter. He claimed that he had been advised to make the application for the licence in respect of a radio station and obtaining the requisite green light from the relevant authorities before he can embark on the formal application.