KUALA LUMPUR – Muar MP and Muda co-founder Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has accused Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin of using the party’s registration approval to “entice” support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
Online portal Free Malaysia Today reported that this incident occurred in the Dewan Rakyat last year during the Budget 2021 session, when Syed Saddiq raised the matter with Hamzah, as the Registrar of Societies (ROS) falls under the Home Ministry.
“He told me that I had never voted in support of government bills as an MP,” Syed Saddiq was quoted as saying in his affidavit in support of obtaining leave for a judicial review over RoS’ refusal to register Muda.
“I was shocked. I replied that I cannot abdicate my duty as an MP and will always vote in accordance with my conscience and the interest of my constituents.”
He said Hamzah told him to stay away from the Dewan Rakyat when voting took place if Syed Saddiq opposed bills tabled by Putrajaya.
Syed Saddiq reportedly met with the minister at his office in Parliament on November 3 at 10.45am to discuss the registration.
Hamzah allegedly told him that he had not received any letter appealing for assistance, adding that official registration was not enough and Syed Saddiq must write to the minister directly.
Syed Saddiq said he sent the letter to Hamzah on the same day, requesting his assistance to speed up Muda’s registration.
On November 10, Syed Saddiq alleged that Hamzah’s political secretary told him the letter was forwarded to RoS.
On December 13, Syed Saddiq made an enquiry with Hamzah on Muda’s registration status but was allegedly told that he should commit himself to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Syed Saddiq was also reminded that he has been voting against the PN administration.
This was two days before the federal lawmakers were to vote on Budget 2021 on December 15. The Budget passed by a narrow margin.
Earlier this month, 13 sponsors for Muda led by Syed Saddiq had filed a leave application to compel RoS and the ministry to register the entity as a political party within seven days of a court order.
The leave application is scheduled to be heard before justice Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya tomorrow and it was reported that the Attorney-General’s Chambers will raise a preliminary objection.
The AGC is expected to claim that it is too early for Syed Saddiq to seek legal action as Muda had not exhausted an appeal to the minister within 30 days after the first RoS rejection on January 6. – The Vibes, January 24, 2021
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