Advertisement

Muda gets green light in legal bid against Home Ministry over registration

Muda gets green light in legal bid against Home Ministry over registration
Muda gets green light in legal bid against Home Ministry over registration

The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) today obtained court leave to challenge Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin’s refusal of its appeal for registration.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur granted leave to the fledgling group to commence with the judicial review against Hamzah’s Aug 12 decision to refuse its appeal.

Muda’s counsel Lim Wei Jiet (above) confirmed that the green light was given by the court, following no objections raised by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

The AGC appeared for the minister and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in the legal action.

“Leave was granted, with the next case management (date) on Oct 6.

“The AGC had no objections,” the counsel said when contacted after proceedings today, which was presided by judge Noorin Badaruddin.

On Aug 12, Hamzah denied Muda’s appeal for registration. As a result, the group withdrew an earlier legal action to compel the minister to decide on its appeal for registration.

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin
Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin

Today’s court outcome is in relation to Muda’s third legal action to challenge Hamzah’s decision.

The group's earlier (second) legal action had sought to compel the minister to make a decision over its appeal, due to alleged delay in decision-making. The legal action was filed earlier this year, prior to Hamzah's decision on Aug 12.

Muda is spearheaded by former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Syed Saddiq was formerly the Bersatu Youth chief until he was booted out from the party. Muda aims to be a youth-centric and multiracial political platform.

It was reported that among the reasons for Muda's earlier failed legal bid was an allegation that the home minister had asked the Muar MP to "commit" himself to then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

Previously, Muda had mounted an unsuccessful (first) legal bid for registration. The High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 4 ruled that it should have appealed to the minister first over the issue before proceeding with the legal action.

Muda's first legal action was due to the ROS on Jan 6 rejecting its application for registration as a political party. The group had then proceeded to appeal to the minister on Feb 4.

However, the second legal action was filed as Muda claimed that there was a delay by Hamzah in deciding on its appeal for registration.

Counsel Lim, who is also the group's vice-president, had then expressed disappointment with the minister's Aug 12 decision, claiming that the timing of the decision showed the authorities merely sought to delay the group's registration.