ROS rejects HRP’s application

The P Uthayakumar-led party's bid to become a registered political entity has hit a snag and its secretary-general cries foul.

PETALING JAYA: The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has rejected the application by the Human Rights Party (HRP).

HRP which applied to be a registered entity on Nov 25, 2010 was informed of the rejection via a letter dated Aug 4.

ROS said the rejection was based on two reasons – HRP’s application was not in order (tidak teratur) and that the party constitution did not fulfill requirements.

Crying foul, HRP’s secretary-general P Uthayakumar claimed that it was a delaying tactic by the ROS and Home Ministry.

“ROS said our application was not in order but did not specify which section of the application was not in order,” he told FMT.

He also questioned how HRP’s constitution could fall short of the ROS’ requirement as it was based on the “tried and tested constitution” of the 46-year-old DAP.

“Ninety-nine percent of our constitution is based on the DAP constitution. The differences are insignificant – like terms for party positions.

“DAP calls their leader chairman, we termed ours president. They have a deputy treasurer, we don’t, things like that…,” he said.

“So why have they rejected our application? It is just a delaying technique to deny the party from registering as a legal party and preventing us from standing in the next election under our own banner,” he said, adding that it was done in bad faith.

Appeal to be filed

Uthayakumar said the party would appeal against the rejection as granted by Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966.

He, however, anticipated the application to be rejected as well and the next step would be to take the matter to court.

HRP was already locked in a court battle over the delay in notifying the party with regard to the status of its application.

In the April 2010 hearing, the judge had instructed the ROS and Home Ministry to inform HRP of the status.

The hearing continues next week but Uthayakumar noted that the ROS’ rejection had rendered the matter academic.

However, the lawyer said that he would file for a judicial review in anticipation of the ministry’s rejection of HRP’s appeal.