THE decision to grant exemption to Umno in accordance with section 70 of the Societies Act 1966 regarding the party’s elections is applicable, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

Nevertheless, he said, if Umno members who brought the matter to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) were not satisfied with the decision, they could take it to court.

“Party members after taking the case to ROS, and ROS gives a decision or the minister gives a decision and they are still not satisfied, they can take it to court,” he told reporters when met in the lobby of the Parliament Building today.

“The process is that they have to give the basis of their statement, prepare an affidavit and then name who is the defendant.”

Earlier when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 for the Home Ministry, Saifuddin said the exemption given to Umno was based on section 70 of the Societies Act.

“Section 70 of the act specifically allows the minister to make some exceptions and the decision I made was directed to the exception of compliance with section 13 of the same act,” he said.

Saifuddin said in a statement yesterday that the Home Ministry granted an exemption to Umno from compliance with section 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act over the decision of an additional motion not to have contest for the positions of president and deputy president in the party’s elections this year.

The exemption was given in accordance with section 70 of the act, which provides that the minister may use his discretion to exempt any registered organisation from all or any of the provisions in the act. – Bernama, March 8, 2023.