HAMZAH ORDERED TO DECIDE ON PEJUANG'S ROS APPLICATION WITHIN 14 DAYS

Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin.

25 June 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin has been ordered by the High Court today to make a decision on the Registrar of Societies (RoS) application of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) within 14 days.

The application of the party led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been rejected since Jan 6. The party's pro tem secretary-general Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah then filed a legal challenge on March 1 to have the party registered.

Judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid granted relief to the minister’s inaction over its application to be registered as a political party, Free Malaysia Today reported.

Hamzah was said to have not given any response on the party's registration as almost six months have passed, breaching his statutory duty under Section 18 of the Societies Act.

Pejuang's legal team claimed that the inaction was intentional so that it would not be able to contest in the general election.

However, Hamzah denied the claim and reasoned that he was too busy with his official duties, which the Judge finds that it wouldn't take too long to decide on the matter as it is not complicated.

Kamal said the minister has officers to aid him with all the tasks which include preparing relevant documents and files for him to decide on the appeal.

The court made no order for costs. Pejuang was represented by lawyers Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali and Mior Nor Haidir.

Another case hearing was fixed for Aug 12.