Pribumi free to contest in elections

High Court judge grants stay against 30-day disband order by RoS

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia can contest in the general election following a stay granted by the High Court against the 30-day provisional disband order by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Azizah Nawawi said if the stay was not allowed and Pribumi remained provisionally dissolved, it might cause irreparable damage to the party in its bid to present an alternative choice for voters.

Justice Azizah said the applicant – Pribumi secretary-general Shahruddin Md Salleh – was representing a political party that was contesting in the elections.

“The RoS’ decision on April 5 must be stayed pending the disposal of the substantive application,” she said yesterday.

She granted the stay on the RoS provisional order against Pribumi pending the disposal of the party’s judicial review bid.

She also dismissed the preliminary objections raised by RoS.

In granting leave for a judicial review, Justice Azizah said she found that Pribumi had shown an arguable case which merited the matter to proceed to the substantive (judicial review) stage.

Met by reporters later, counsel Rosli Dahlan commended the judge’s “courageous judgment”.

“This is a great day for Malaysians who want to give our citizens the right to choose,” he said.

Shahruddin had named RoS’ director-general Surayati Ibrahim as the sole respondent in the suit filed on April 13.

The party wants a certiorari order to quash the temporary deregistration order against the party dated April 5, as announced by the respondent via the media.

It is seeking a prohibition order to restrain Surayati from misusing the Societies Act.

The party also wants a prohibition order to stop the respondent from abusing the Act by quashing its registration under Section 14(7) of the Act, and to prevent it from becoming a valid political party.

In his affidavit, Shahruddin said Surayati’s decision on the temporary deregistration under Section 14(5) was done in bad faith.

He said the RoS had failed to hand over the 30-day disband notice to the party’s office bearers as required by law.

In his reaction, Pribumi president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the court’s decision meant that the party was free to continue its struggles.

It had also boosted the spirit of Pribumi members, he added.

“Our party members will use PKR’s logo in the general election, as agreed upon by Pakatan Harapan leaders,” he said.