Federal Court rejects ex-PAS leader’s bid to revive expired preaching licence

On February 26, a three-member Court of Appeal bench refused to overturn a lower court ruling that denied the Selangor religious council's extension of former PAS leader Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani's tauliah, or accreditation to preach. The bench, led by Justice Nordin Hassan, ruled that Dusuki's legal questions raised in his appeal did not meet the threshold for public importance under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

Dusuki and his supporters Jamil Yaacob and Ashok K Raman argued that the court should substitute its decision in matters involving discretion, but the Court of Appeal rejected this, stating that the courts could not substitute their judgment for that of a public authority. Dusuki had been issued a tauliah by the Selangor religious council and tauliah committee on February 26, 2022, which expired on June 30, 2023.

However, he challenged the revocation in the Shah Alam High Court and sought an order to extend the tauliah beyond its expiry date, as well as damages and a declaration that the respondents could not restrain him from preaching due to his political activities. The High Court quashed the revocation but refused to extend the tauliah or grant the declaration, leading to the current appeal.