THE Registrar of Societies (ROS) has confirmed that it blacklisted Muda deputy president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz from holding office in registered societies.

In a statement today, ROS said it blacklisted Amira due to the revocation of Persatuan Ekonomi Merdeka’s (PEM) registration on October 28, 2022, which was carried out under section 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966.

Amira was PEM secretary between August 3, 2017 and October 19 last year.

The provision gives the ROS power to revoke the registration of a society if it has wilfully contravened the act or related regulations.

“This means she is also bound under section 49 of the same act.

“The blacklist was issued based on the relevant rules and regulations such as the Societies Act, which grants the agency power to carry out such action,” ROS said.

Amira, who is Puteri Wangsa assemblyman, on the other hand, claimed ROS has no legal basis to prevent her from holding any position in a society and has taken the body to court for the blacklisting.

She is asking the Kuala Lumpur High Court to quash the ROS’ decision to blacklist her and issue a declaration that the Societies Act 1966 does not confer on the regulatory body the power to bar anyone from office.

Amira filed her application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings on July 13. The application was allowed on August 17 after the attorney-general did not object to it. Case management has been fixed on September 14.

In her affidavit in support of the application, Amira alleged that she was informed about her blacklisting through an email from the ROS dated April 18.

The email was sent to notify her and several other activists of the body’s refusal to register another civil society, Persatuan Impak Wanita Malaysia (Malaysian Women Impact Association). – September 2, 2023.