The assessment of damages for The Edge following the three-month suspension imposed by the Home Ministry on two of its publications was put on hold today pending the ministry's appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Senior federal counsel Alice Loke, for the ministry, said the ministry sought a deferral for six months, pending the outcome of the appellate court decision.

Following this, deputy registrar of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Hasnita Ab Razak, fixed May 12 next year for case management.

The damages were ordered to be assessed by High Court judge Asmabi Mohamad, who on Sept 21 ruled the suspension of The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge Financial Weekly as illegal and and therefore, null and void.

The publications were suspended by the ministry for three months from July 27 for the publication of allegedly undesirable articles on 1MDB.

Justice Asmabi ruled the decision by the home minister to suspend the two financial papers was full of illegality and irrationality, and breached the rules of natural justice.