Judge Mariana Yahya ruled that MUDA, led by former minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, should have filed its appeal first to home minister Hamzah Zainudin, rather than file the court action.

Mariana, who delivered the court’s decision through Zoom today, had heard arguments from MUDA’s lawyer, Tommy Thomas, and senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly @ Arwi on Jan 25.

MUDA, through Syed Saddiq and 12 founding members, had sought to challenge RoS’ refusal to register it as a society.

It claimed that the home minister and RoS had acted ultra vires the Societies Act over the decision not to register the party, and the decision was, therefore, null and void.

MUDA said RoS had sent it an email on Jan 6, informing it of its decision, but no reason was given.

In addition to MUDA, RoS had rejected the application by Pejuang, led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for registration.

Syed Saddiq, in his affidavit seen by FMT, alleged that Hamzah had “enticed” him to support Perikatan Nasional if he wanted MUDA’s registration to be approved.

The Muar MP claimed that his conversation with Hamzah took place at the Dewan Rakyat late last year during the 2021 budget meeting, when he brought up the matter with the minister, who oversees RoS.

He claimed that Hamzah went on to say that even if he (Syed Saddiq) opposed government bills, he should stay away from the Dewan Rakyat when voting took place.

“I was shocked. I replied that I could not abdicate my duty as an MP and would always vote in accordance with my conscience and the interests of my constituents,” he said in the affidavit.

Yesterday, Hamzah told reporters he had received an appeal from Pejuang for registration but had yet to receive any from MUDA.

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