KUALA LUMPUR (July 18): Parti Kemakmuran Negara, a party for armed forces veterans, obtained leave (permission) from the High Court on Monday (July 18) for judicial review here against the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and Home Affairs Minister, as the minister has not replied to the veterans' appeal after the RoS had rejected the party's formation.
Its counsel Lim Wei Jiet confirmed that Justice Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid allowed leave for judicial review for the party's challenge to be heard on its full merits.
After granting the leave, the High Court fixed July 27 for case management.
In judicial review cases, to challenge a decision made by the authorities, leave or permission from the court has to be gained for the merits of the application to be heard.
On July 7, the armed forces veterans filed a judicial review against the RoS and the Home Affairs Minister to compel the minister to make a decision on the veterans' appeal after the RoS rejected their application to register Parti Kemakmuran Negara.
Led by Brigadier Gen (Rtd) Datuk Abdullah Mohamed and seven others, the group named the Home Affairs Minister and the RoS as respondents due to the delay of the minister in reaching a decision on the party's appeal against the RoS’ decision on March 16 to reject its registration.
The founders had applied to register the party on March 9, 2021, and this was rejected a year later. They later appealed the decision on March 25 this year. Almost four months have passed since the appeal was filed with no decision made by the minister (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin).
Hence, in the judicial review they are seeking a court order to compel the minister to make a decision within seven days of the appeal, should the veterans' application be allowed.
New narrative as party is open to all, not just veterans
Meanwhile, Abdullah, who is the party's president, in a statement after the court decision said the judicial review was filed after the party had filed an appeal multiple times over the matter.
Abdullah said he would take the opportunity to correct the perception towards the party, namely that it is a party for all races, and not only for veterans or for the welfare of veterans but for all citizens.
“We do not trust the mainstream political parties which had and currently administer the country or the leaders or institutions that are filled with corrupt practices that think this is business as usual.
“The party is formed to fight for the people, especially ... post-Covid-19 pandemic and [in] the challenging economic situation now. The party wants to strengthen the voice of the rakyat in the development of the economy, socio-economy which is presently on the downturn. We veterans would like to rise again, not to combat the traditional enemy, but to hinder the politics of wanting power and [those] out to jeopardise the stability and development of the country," he said.
Abdullah said the veterans are willing to work with any political party that could change and put Malaysia on the right progressive track according to the new mould.
“We do not trust the mainstream political parties to uphold the constitution, integrity, and increase the dignity of this country. We have been left behind in some aspects of technology and innovation compared to [other] countries in this Asian region.
“Malaysia could rise up with a new ideology or narrative and follow the development policies based on meritocracy, pragmatism, and honesty. It is only the government that could have the framework for the people to do it,” he added.
The veterans, Abdullah said, are sensitive to the country's instability and would fight the politics of race and disunity.
He added that they reject extremist racist or religious views, which could lead to more division, rather than unify the nation.
“This country needs elements of security in all aspects, like the dangers in [the] influx of illegal immigrants, in infrastructure, ... and safety from cyberattacks and white collar crime.
“There is also a need for political safety, stability via a new narrative, economic safety including food security, and [reduce] the country's debts as well as ecological safety in a bid to prevent rampant illegal logging,” he added.
“The party will fight against corruption, abuse of power or cartels. Our mission is a new politics that has integrity and dignity, and [to do] service to the B40 [socio-economic category of Malaysians].
“In line with this, we need to strengthen various government institutions like the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, immigration, customs, and others, to deliver [their services]. The country should also strengthen the judiciary, so there would not be any political interference. There should be a demarcation of power between the legislative, executive, and judiciary,” he added.
He said all this is needed in a functioning democracy as there is a need for a balance of all these three branches.
“For this reason, we hope that Parti Kemakmuran Negara would be allowed to register as soon as possible so that we can have time to strengthen and make preparations for the 15th general election,” Abdullah said.