Court dismisses judicial review application over registration of Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday dismissed a judicial review application by Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia ( HTM) to challenge the decision of the Home Minister rejecting its appeal for registration as an organisation.

Justice Datin Azizah Nawawi dismissed the application filed by HTM on Aug 9, 2016, in which it had named the Home Minister as a respondent.

In her ruling, the judge said the decision of the Home Minister in rejecting the appeal over the organisation’s registration was reasonable and valid in law as the Selangor Fatwa Committee had gazetted the teachings of Hizbut Tahrir as deviant.

The court also dismissed the argument by HTM that the decision of the Home Minister was invalid and void under Articles 10 and 11 of the Federal Constitution.

The court also ordered HTM to pay RM10,000 as legal costs to the Home Ministry.

Senior federal counsel Mazlifah Ayob represented the Home Minister while Dennis Pereira acted on behalf of the organisation’s president.

In its application, HTM argued that the decision of the Home Minister rejecting its appeal to register the organisation had violated Articles 10 and 11 of the Federal Constitution.

HTM had also applied for the decision of the minister in rejecting the appeal on its registration under Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966 to be cancelled immediately.

Meanwhile, HTM president Abdul Hakim, when met by reporters, said HTM had sent three applications to the Registry of Societies to register the organisation but these were rejected on July 24, 2015.

An appeal sent to the Home Minister was rejected on May 31, 2016, he said. — Bernama