THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has dismissed Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin’s application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings against the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
Zuraida is asking the court to formally acknowledge her as Parti Bangsa Malaysia’s (PBM) rightful president.
During open court hearings this morning (June 6), High Court Judge Datuk Amerjeet Singh reportedly dismissed the former Ampang MP’s application for judicial review leave, citing that Section 18C of the Societies Act of 1966 prohibits the court from looking into the affairs of political parties.
“Moreover, this court (High Court) is also bound by the binding precedent set by the Court of Appeal,” he was quoted as saying.
On April 12, federal counsel M. Kogilambigai submitted before Amarjeet that the dispute in PBM was a matter for the parties to settle.
“The court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter due to the ouster clause in Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966,” she told Amarjeet indicating that the attorney-general disagreed with Zuraida’s request for leave before her case’s merits could be heard.
Zuraida’s lawyer Ashmeer Ashrof claimed that the dispute had been settled as the ROS had been notified of the settlement on October 22 last year, although the ROS did not recognise Zuraida as the party president.
Zuraida previously sought to challenge the decision by the ROS late last year to recognise Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng as PBM president.
She also requested a mandamus order to compel the ROS to recognise and register her as the PBM president effective of Oct 7 last year.
Zuraida left PKR for Bersatu in 2020 during the Sheraton Move that ushered in a change of administration from Pakatan Harapan (PH) to Perikatan Nasional (PN).
She then left Bersatu in May last year to join the newly-formed PBM but was sacked by PBM in December the same year along with 10 other party leaders after they failed to respond to show cause letters that were issued following their suspension from the party in October. – June 6, 2023
Main pic credit: The Sun Daily
