PN to challenge RoS deregistration in court

KUALA LUMPUR, October 20 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) plans to contest the Registrar of Societies' (RoS) decision to revoke the coalition's registration, as well as appeal to the home minister, declared its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan today. Takiyuddin disclosed that the legal challenge would commence with a submission during PN's stay application hearing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Thursday.

According to Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966 (Act 832), any local society, officer, member, or aggrieved party can appeal a RoS decision within 30 days of the decision, he informed. Section 8 of the same Act empowers the home minister to confirm, reject, or modify the registrar's decision, with the minister's decision being final.

"PN will challenge the legitimacy of the Cancellation Order, request a stay of its enforcement, and all its ramifications until the court's resolution," Takiyuddin informed at a press conference at Parliament today. He further urged the Attorney General to explain this action in light of the Attorney General's Chambers' position during the court hearing of PN's stay application on Thursday.

The RoS canceled PN's registration after finding that the coalition's explanation did not refute the grounds for deregistration stated in an earlier notice. The department made the decision after reviewing all documents and explanations submitted by PN on October 12, stating that the reasons provided by PN did not provide a strong justification for retaining the party's registration.