THE Home Ministry will announce its decision on the registration status of Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) on Monday, its minister Hamzah Zainudin said today.

The announcement concerns whether the government will approve the application as ordered by the High Court earlier this week or appeal against the ruling.

Hamzah said the ministry has also held discussions over the matter with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. 

“As the court has decided to grant them the opportunity and said it is everyone’s right, I have already discussed this matter with the party president and the prime minister. 

“I will announce our decision on Monday,” Hamzah told reporters after the opening ceremony of the Armada and Srikandi wings’ annual general assembly at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

The High Court on Tuesday gave the Home Ministry 14 days to approve Muda’s registration as a political party, led by former Bersatu Armada chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman. 

The court also ordered the home minister and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to pay RM10,000 to Muda.

Judge Noorin Badaruddin made the decision after allowing a judicial review application filed by the Muar MP, along with 12 others, to challenge the home minister and ROS’ decision to reject their appeal to register Muda as a political party.

Hamzah said that Syed Saddiq had also met with him to apply for permission for Muda to be registered. 

The Bersatu secretary-general said one of the reasons why he did not approve Muda’s registration was because the party’s pro-tem committee violated the country’s laws.

“Syed Saddiq met me and pleaded with me. I told him why I rejected their application. It was because in the Societies Act 1966, we do not simply allow anyone to be in the pro-tem committee, or any person to form a new party. The committee members have to be carefully vetted to make sure no laws are broken in the country. 

“But before their application could be approved, they committed various offences such as protesting and other things that violate the country’s laws. 

“So that’s why I had to reject their application, because the committee included those who committed wrongful acts,” said Hamzah. 

On September 21, Syed Saddiq and 12 others as applicants obtained the court’s permission to start the judicial review to challenge the decision. 

They applied for a declaration that the application to register Muda as an organisation under the category of political party was in order and had complied with all the requirements under the Societies Act 1966.

They also applied for a mandamus order for both respondents to register Muda as a political organisation within 14 days from the date of the order.

Muda is also now working with Sabah-based Warisan, which is spreading its wings to the peninsula. – December 18, 2021.