The High Court today allowed to Pakatan Harapan (PH) to challenge the Registrar of Society (RoS) over the delay in registering the Opposition pact.
Lawyers for the Opposition coalition Gobind Singh Deo and Haniff Khatri Abdulla told reporters this after Justice Azizah Nawawi granted leave to apply for judicial review in chambers.
“We filed the judicial review to compel the RoS to respond to our registration and, alternatively, we want to compel them to register PH in line with our application.
“The court allowed us to challenge RoS and fixed March 15. We will ask for an early hearing date since the 14th general election (GE14) is around the corner,” Gobind said.
He added that the court decision after the full hearing was important to the opposition in preparing for GE14.
Gobind revealed that there were two objections by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), represented by senior federal lawyer Suzana Atan, regarding PH’s civil suit but the court dismissed the objections.
Also present in court today were PH chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah, PPBM secretary-general Shahruddin Salleh, Amanah deputy secretary-general Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus, and DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai.
Hari Anggara
On Feb 21, PH filed a civil suit to compel the courts to instruct the RoS to respond to the coalition’s registration application.
The legal application was undersigned by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia secretary-general Shahruddin Md Salleh, Pakatan Harapan chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and Parti Amanah Negara deputy secretary-general Abang Ahmad Kerdee Abang Masagus.
Shafwan Zaidon
Gobind had previously said that when an application was filed, the applicant had a legitimate expectation that the RoS would consider their application and respond.
“We do not see any reason for the RoS to withhold the registration of PH.”
The next day, the New Straits Times reported that the RoS director-general Surayati Ibrahim said it was unfazed by PH’s legal action and told the latter that roping the courts into the matter would only delay the registration process further.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today defended the RoS, the Malay Mail reported.
The deputy prime minister and home minister, whose purview covers RoS, said it was merely executing its responsibility as an overseer of registered establishments.
“I do not wish to interfere in the matter because it is an operational issue.
Bernama
“However I believe RoS is doing its job professionally and fairly,” he was quoted saying.
