 The Newspaper and Printing Presses Act ( " NPPA " ) generally imposes curbs on the foreign ownership of newspaper companies , and requires a permit to be obtained for the publication , sale and distribution of newspapers . It also enables the Minister for Communications and Information to restrict the circulation of any foreign newspaper that has been declared to be " engaging in the domestic politics of Singapore " . In February 1987 , such a declaration was made against The Asian Wall Street Journal and its circulation was limited to 400 copies . The newspaper 's publisher , Dow Jones Publishing Co . ( Asia ) Inc . , unsuccessfully challenged the decision before the High Court and the Court of Appeal . The Court of Appeal interpreted the term domestic politics broadly , holding that in Singapore 's context it included : 
