Umno obtained a stay order today against a suit filed by Anina Saadudin challenging the party's decision to expel her as an Umno member.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur granted the stay application filed by Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and its executive secretary Abdul Rauf Yusoh.

With this, Tengku Adnan and Rauf need not file their defence statement.

Judicial Commissioner S Nantha Balan also fixed Nov 30 to hear Tengku Adnan's application to strike out Anina's suit.

The matter came up in Nantha Balan's chambers during case management.

The judicial commissioner also fixed Oct 16 for Anina to file her affidavit in reply to the application of Tengku Adnan and Abdul Rauf, while the defendants are supposed to reply by Oct 23.

"Written submissions on the matter are to be filed by Nov 6," Nantha ordered.

Anina filed a suit last month against Tengku Adnan ( photo ) and Rauf, seeking a declaration from the court that the two letters issued by Tengku Adnan announcing her automatic expulsion to be invalid, void and to have no effect on her membership.

Alternatively, she is seeking an order that her expulsion from Umno is invalid and void.

Anina claims her expulsion goes against the party constitution and the Federal Constitution on her right to seek natural justice as this came after she lodged a complaint against party president Najib Abdul Razak with the party's disciplinary board.

The vocal former Langkawi Umno division member has also filed a suit against Umno president Najib Abdul Razak for the return of the balance from the RM2.6 billion political donation he had received in his personal bank accounts to Umno.

Anina was represented by Aizul Rohan while Tengku Adnan and Abdul Rauf were represented by Nurhazira Abu Hayat.

Nurhazira said the striking out application was based on Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966, which states that a court has no jurisdiction to hear issues from party members under provisions of the Act that are applicable to political parties only.