3 trader groups drop summons against rally organisers
KUALA LUMPUR: Three trader associations in the capital here yesterday withdrew their originating summons (OS) against Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and Malaysian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Coalition chairman Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos, who is also leader of the Red Shirts movement.
High Court judge S. Nantha Balan allowed the application with no order as to costs.
Counsel Shahid Adli Kamarudin, who represented Maria, Bersih & Adil Network Sdn Bhd and the Bersih 2.0 steering committee named as the first, second and third defendants respectively, said no reason was given for the withdrawal of the legal action.
“The three plaintiffs had withdrawn their OS.
“The judge allowed it and made no order as to costs,” he said in chambers yesterday.
The three trader associations — Jalan Masjid India Modern Malay Bazaar Traders Association, Medan Mara Business Premises Tenants Association and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman Traders and Hawkers Association — had filed the OS on Nov 16 to get a court order to prevent the Bersih 5 and Red Shirt rallies from being held at Dataran Merdeka on Nov 19.
They had named Jamal and the Red Shirts movement as the fourth and fifth defendants.
On Nov 17, Nantha Balan rejected the plaintiffs’ application to obtain an injunction to prevent the rallies, after finding no merit in their application and for not meeting the requirements under Section 9(C) of the Societies Act 1966.
The associations had also sought an injunction to prevent roads from being closed and made non-accessible to traders and customers, as well as an order of commitment against those who violated the injunction.
In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs claimed the rally on Nov 19 would cause losses to 1,000 traders in the vicinity of Jalan Masjid India, Medan Mara and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman due to road blockages by the authorities to control the crowd.
planting a tree at the launch in Pantai Cahaya Negeri, Port Dickson, recently. Pic by