Anina’s suit against two from Umno stayed by high Court

KUALA LUMPUR: A suit by former Langkawi Wanita Umno member Anina Saaduddin against the party’s secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh, has been stayed by a High Court here.

The suit was stayed pending Tengku Adnan and Ab Rauf’s application to strike out the suit over her expulsion from the party, which she said was invalid.

Tengku Adnan and Ab Rauf 's counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun told reporters after meeting Judicial Commissioner Roslan A. Bakar in chambers yesterday that the court fixed Oct 10 to hear his clients’ application to strike out the suit.

Mohd Hafarizam said the application was filed on the grounds that Anina had no locus standi to bring the action against his clients.

Anina is represented by counsel Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.

Anina filed the originating summons on June 3 seeking a declaration that Section 18C of the Societies Act was null and void and a breach of Article 5 and 8 of the Federal Constitution on fundamental liberties and equality before the law, respectively.

She named the Malaysian government, Tengku Adnan and Ab Rauf as the first, second and third defendants, respectively.

Anina is seeking a declaration that Clause 20.7 of the Umno constitution, which provides expulsion for members who take the party to court, is invalid as it is ultra vires of the Federal Constitution.