Nod for Selangor to challenge ROS’ decision on Balkis

What say you on the issue below?

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor government and nine others have succeeded in getting a court order to challenge the legality of the Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) decision to dissolve and de-register Balkis (Wives of Selangor elected representatives association) on Feb 11.

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ruled that the applicants have sufficient locus standi to challenge the ROS’ decision.

Mohamad Ariff held in chambers that the applicants were not mere “busybodies” as they had also contributed funds to Balkis.

Elaborating on his grounds, Mohamad Ariff said he had to grant leave to hear the merits of the applications as the matter involved public interest.

He set Sept 16 to decide on the stay of ROS’ decision to dissolve Balkis.

Counsel Derek Fernandez, who acted for the 10 applicants, disclosed the judge’s order to reporters. He said the ruling proved that the leave applications for judicial review were not frivolous or vexatious.

Co-counsel S. Selvarajah had submitted on Aug 10 that his clients had contributed RM6.818mil in funds to Balkis, adding that this constituted public funds.

Besides monetary contributions, Selvarajah said that PKNS had contributed two plots of land in Shah Alam worth millions of ringgit to Balkis.

Selvarajah argued that these funds were entrusted to Balkis and that the applicants felt that there was a breach of trust when Balkis was wrongly dissolved on Feb 11 in contravention of its constitution.

The applicants sought leave for an order to quash the ROS’s decision in dissolving Balkis, a declaration that the decision was null and void, and to reinstate its registration, among others.

Those who had sought a judicial review via a civil action filed on May 4 were the Selangor government, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s wife Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd and Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd.

In another action filed two days later, several other groups also sought a judicial review over the matter.

Federal Counsel Maisarah Juhari declined comment when asked if ROS would appeal. Maisarah had on Aug 20 described the applicants as “busy bodies.”