Perikatan’s bid to challenge ROS suspension order to be heard by High Court on Oct 13

In the application, PN seeks an order of certiorari to quash the suspension order dated September 23 under subsection 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966. The order suspended all PN activities except responding to a notice of intention to cancel registration. — File picture by Shafwan Zaidon

First Published: Tuesday, 06 Oct 2026 8:49 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The High Court here yesterday set October 13 to hear Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) application for leave to commence a judicial review against the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) suspension order on the coalition’s activities.

A check on the court system showed that the application will be heard before Judge Datuk Azizan Md Arshad at 9am.

PN and PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, along with secretaries-general of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) Wong Chia Zhen and Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) N. Sathes Kumar, filed the application as the first to third applicants. The fourth and fifth applicants were the secretaries-general of Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, and Parti Pejuang Tanahair (Pejuang), Datuk Sazmi Miah.

The respondents are RoS director-general Datuk Mohd Zulfikar Ahmad and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

In a certificate of urgency filed through Messrs Siddiq Azani & Co alongside the application, the applicants said the suspension prevented them from conducting routine political activities. This included using the coalition’s name and symbol in the 16th Melaka State Election.

Takiyuddin, in a supporting affidavit obtained by the media, said the suspension order issued by the RoS on September 23 had a conclusive effect, as it prohibited the coalition from carrying out political activities.

He said the suspension prevented the PN Supreme Council and other party organs from convening meetings or making decisions, including those related to PN’s participation in the Melaka State Election. As a result, PN could not issue statements, hold public rallies, or campaign, adding that party officials also risked prosecution if they breached the order.

In the application, PN seeks an order of certiorari to quash the suspension order dated September 23 under subsection 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966. The order suspended all PN activities except responding to a notice of intention to cancel registration.

They are also challenging a notice dated September 22, 2026, under subsection 13(2) of the same Act expressing the intention to deregister PN after 30 days.

According to the application, the notice was issued on the grounds that PN had breached Clause 7.1 of the PN Constitution by failing to invite Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), as a member party, to the PN Supreme Council meeting on July 16.

The applicants contended that the RoS lacks jurisdiction to determine whether Bersatu remains a member party of PN. They said the PN Constitution should decide this.

They also said the suspension order was made without giving PN the right to be heard. They added they were not provided with Bersatu’s complaint or the documents forming the basis of the action. — Bernama