KUALA LUMPUR – The Registrar of Society (RoS) has rejected an application by Pejuang, led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to be registered as a political party.
Lawyer Mior Nor Haidir Suhaimi, representing Pejuang, said the RoS had written to notify Pejuang protem secretary-general Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah of the rejection at 5.50pm yesterday, saying that the application for the registration was improperly done.
“I’m waiting for further instruction from my client as they probably want to appeal to the Home Ministry,” he told reporters after the proceeding before high court judge Datin Seri Mariana Yahya today.
Today was initially set for the court to hear Pejuang’s application for a judicial review against RoS’ delay of the approval for the registration application.
Mior said following the RoS’ decision today, Pejuang has withdrawn the judicial review application on the grounds that it has become academic.
Mior said Pejuang is expected to hold a media conference on the issue later today.
On December 10 last year, Amiruddin filed the judicial review application through the law firm of Messrs Haidir & Co, by naming the RoS director-general and RoS as the first and second respondents.
In the application, Amiruddin applied for a declaration that the actions of both respondents in not giving any decision or registering Pejuang were in conflict with the statutory obligations of both respondents as well as unreasonable and mala fide.
He also alternatively applied for a declaration that the failure of both respondents to process the party's registration application is contrary to the applicant's legitimate expectation.
In addition, a mandamus order was also requested for both respondents to give the decision of Pejuang's registration application according to Section 7 (1) of the Societies Act 1966 within seven days from the date of judgment, costs and other relief deemed appropriate by the court. – Bernama, January 7, 2021
