The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has ordered RM4,000 in costs to be paid to financial daily The Edge after rejecting the Home Ministry’s stay application.

Senior federal counsel Alice Loke, who represented the Home Ministry, said the costs had to be paid by the respondents in respect of the rejection of the Home Ministry’s application to stay the court's decision to quash the suspension of The Edge

Loke also confirmed that assessment of damages will take place at a later date.

Justice Asmabi Mohamad made the decision in chambers today.

Loke ( photo ) disclosed that in refusing the stay application, Justice Asmabi said The Edge had already succeeded in its case and should not be deprived of the fruits of its labour.

She also confirmed the stay that was requested was until Oct 27, to preserve the integrity of the appeal the Home Ministry is making in the Court of Appeal.

The lawyer said her team is still going to argue that Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's decision to suspend the financial daily was right.

“And if we are successful, of course the Court of Appeal will dismiss the damages and assessment as well," she said.

The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge Financial Weekly were suspended by the ministry for three months, beginning July 27.

However, following the High Court's decision last month, both papers have resumed publication.

In her decision to quash the suspension, Justice Asmabi ruled that the ministry's decision to bar the publications was full of illegality and irrationality, and breached the rules of natural justice.