ZURAIDA Kamaruddin has failed to obtain the High Court’s permission to initiate a judicial review to get the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to recognise her as Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president.

Judge Amarjeet Singh dismissed the former Ampang MP’s application on the grounds that section 18C of the Societies Act 1966 stipulates the court cannot hear cases involving a political party’s internal disputes.

“Based on that section, the court is also bound by the decision made by the higher court regarding the issue,” said the judge.

Present at today’s proceedings were federal counsel M. Kogilambigai and lawyer Mohamed Ashmeer Ashrof representing Zuraida.

On April 12, the Attorney-General’s Chambers had objected to Zuraida’s application, arguing that decisions involving a party are final and cannot be challenged, appealed or questioned by the court.

Zuraida, 65, who filed the application on March 24, naming ROS as the sole respondent, sought a declaration that ROS’ action to retain Larry Soon @ Larry Sng Wei Shen as PBM president was unlawful as well as a mandamus order to compel ROS to recognise her as PBM’s rightful president effective October 7, 2022.

Zuraida, in her supporting affidavit, said she received a letter from PBM on October 27 last year informing her about her appointment as party president.

However, Zuraida said she received a letter from the party dated December 19 of the same year in which Soon declared himself as PBM president and suspended her membership.

The former plantation industries and commodities minister said she learnt of her sacking from PBM through a report published on The Star on December 27, 2022, but never received any notice, letter or information from the party about it. – Bernama, June 6, 2023.