KUALA LUMPUR – The 16 ex-Umno members who have filed an appeal for a judicial review seeking the party’s dissolution for not having its election within the prescribed time will continue with their court action.
Case management for this has been fixed to be heard in the Court of Appeal on July 30.
Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, who represented the 16, told reporters the appeal has been filed at the Court of Appeal and his clients intend to pursue the case.
“But we will consult the Attorney-General’s Chambers on Section 18C of the Societies Act 1886 which stops the court from hearing internal conflicts of party members. So, we will consult the AGC on the matter and file a written representation,” he said.
He added the Court of Appeal will decide if the High Court had erred in dismissing his clients’ appeal and should that be the case, the case will be heard in the High Court again.
The High Court will then decide if the party is illegal as there were no elections held within the stipulated time.
On April 27, the High Court dismissed the 16 ex-Umno members’ application for leave to initiate a judicial review to seek the party’s dissolution for not having its election within the prescribed time, thus violating its constitution.
Judge Datuk Kamaludin Md Said made the decision after finding that the decision of a political party relating to its affairs shall be final and could not be questioned in any court on any ground as provided under Section 18C of the Societies Act 199.
Earlier, the 16 withdrew their application to commence proceedings of a committal order application against former Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
All the applicants withdrew their application following the latest political development in the country where there is a change in the ruling party that formed the government and Tengku Adnan is no longer Umno secretary-general.
Mohamed Haniff told reporters he had received the instruction from his clients and had informed the High Court about it yesterday.
“After meeting in the chambers of Datuk Nordin Hassan, the court has cancelled the application,” he told reporters outside the courtroom.
KU LI: STOP LETTING UMNO LEADERS HOLD PARTY FUNDS
KUALA LUMPUR – Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has urged the party to stop its policy of having leaders hold party funds.
Tengku Razaleigh, better known as Ku Li, said money politics was a serious issue plaguing the party.
“None of the Umno members should collect donations or keep funds received for the party.
“All funds received must be held on behalf of Umno, not the name of the individual holding office,” the Gua Musang MP said today at the Parliament lobby.
This comes after cash amounting to RM116.7 million was seized in raids on premises linked to former Umno president Najib Razak.
The money, which was kept in various currencies, was part of cash and luxury goods that was seized from several properties linked to the family of former prime minister Najib Razak.
Police said the items seized were worth over RM1 billion.
The raids, which took place a week after the May 9 general elections, were part of an investigation into 1MDB’s former subsidiary, SRC International (SRC).
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) also froze Umno’s party accounts as part of investigations into 1MDB.
On July 11, Umno was reported to have appointed lawyer Hariharan Tara Singh to reclaim most of the RM116.7 million seized by the authorities.
It had clamed that a substantial portion of the money seized belonged to Umno and had no relationship whatsoever with the case of 1MDB or SRC.
– FMT
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