Malaysian High Court allows Mahathir's PPBM to continue

Petaling Jaya

THE Malaysian High Court has allowed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to continue as a politcal party after it granted an application by the party to challenge the Registrar of Societies' (RoS') decision to issue a 30-day provisional disband order against it.

"As of now PPBM is still legal. PPBM is still alive and will continue to function normally as a party," party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told reporters.

But Mr Muhyiddin said PPBM would stick to the agreement by the opposition pact - which comprises PKR, PPBM, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara - to use the PKR logo, the New Straits Times reported.

Last Friday, PPBM filed an application for a judicial review against the the Registrar's move to dissolve the opposition party for a month starting April 5.

PPBM secretary-general Shahruddin Md Salleh, who was the applicant, named RoS director-general Surayati Ibrahim as the sole respondent in the fresh leave for a judicial review application filed on April 13.

The party wants an order to quash the temporary deregistration order against the party announced by the respondent via the media.

The applicant also seeks a prohibition order to restrain Mr Surayati from misusing the Societies Act.

And it wants a prohibition order to stop the respondent from abusing the Act by quashing its registration under Section 14(7) of the Act, and also to prevent it from becoming a valid political party.

In his affidavit, Mr Shahruddin said Ms Surayati's decision on the temporary deregistration under Section 14(5) was done in bad faith.

He said the RoS failed to hand over the 30-day disband notice to the hand of the party's office bearers as required under the law.

According to the RoS, PPBM had violated Section 14(5) of the Societies Act 1966 in failing to submit information and documents pertaining to the minutes of branch meetings, divisions and centres.

RoS added that PPBM had also failed to submit party financial statements within the stipulated deadline.