Zuraida fails in bid to challenge RoS to recognise her as PBM president

Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh dismissed the former Ampang member of parliament's application on the grounds that according to Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966, the court cannot hear cases of political party's internal disputes.

"Based on that section, the court is also bound by the decision made by the higher court regarding the issue," said the judge.

Present at today's proceedings were Federal Counsel M. Kogilambigai and lawyer Mohamed Ashmeer Ashrof representing Zuraida.

On April 12, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) had objected to Zuraida's application by arguing that decisions involving a party are final and cannot be challenged, appealed or questioned by the court.

Zuraida, 65, who filed the application on March 24, naming RoS as the sole respondent, sought a declaration that that RoS' action to retain Datuk Larry Soon @ Larry Sng Wei Shen as the PBM president was unlawful, and a mandamus order to compel RoS to recognise her as PBM's rightful president effective Oct 7, 2022.

Zuraida, in her supporting affidavit, said she received a letter from PBM on Oct 27, 2022, informing her about her appointment as PBM president.

However, Zuraida said she had received a letter from the party dated Dec 19 of the same year, in which Soon declared himself as the PBM president and suspended her membership.

The former plantation industries and commodities minister said she learned of her sacking from the PBM through The Star news portal on Dec 27, 2022, but never received any notice, letter or information from the party about it.