KUALA LUMPUR (May 25): Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and 12 individuals were granted leave by the High Court to proceed with a judicial review to challenge the action of the home affairs minister and the Registrar of Societies (RoS) concerning their appeal to register the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) as a political party.
Judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin granted leave for a judicial review this morning. MUDA was represented by Lim Wei Jiet, while senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambali and Federal Counsel M Kogilambigai appeared for the Ministry of Home Affairs and the RoS respectively.
Lawyers for the ministry and the RoS had no objection to MUDA’s application for the judicial review.
In lawsuits filed via judicial review applications where the courts are asked to review actions or decisions of a public body or the government, applicants of the judicial review have to seek leave for a judicial review or to seek permission from the courts for their lawsuits to proceed and be heard.
Justice Noorin then set June 8 for case management for both parties to submit documents.
Syed Saddiq, who is the founder of the party, and 12 others filed the application in the High Court here through law firm Sreenevasan, naming the home minister and the RoS as the first and second respondents.
In the application, the applicants are seeking a mandamus order for the first respondent (home minister) to reach a decision under Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966 on the applicants’ appeal against the RoS’ decision in refusing to register MUDA as a political party on Jan 6, seven days after a court ruling.
The applicants are also seeking damages, including aggravated and exemplary damages, and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
On Feb 4, MUDA submitted an appeal on its registration as a political party to the RoS and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
The application form to register MUDA as a political party was submitted to the RoS last September, but was rejected in January.