More time given to settle PSM suit against Pak Lah
K Kabilan
976729907
Justice KC Vohrah allowed the parties until Feb 28 next year to work out a solution over the refusal of the Home Affairs Minister to register the political party.
In a suit filed on Oct 26 last year, PSM applied to the court to quash the minister's rejection of the party's registration and order him to register the party.
PSM had applied to be registered as a political party on April 30, 1998, but its application was rejected by the Registrar of Societies on Jan 21 last year.
The party then appealed against the registrar's decision to the Home Affairs Minister on Feb 23 last year but was rejected through a letter dated Sept 15, 1999.
Agreement
In its suit, PSM claims that the minister had not given any reasons for rejecting the party's appeal and had acted beyond his powers under Article 10 (1) (c) of the Federal Constitution.
Article 10 refers to right of citizens to form associations subject to certain restrictions imposed by the law.
This is the second time the hearing has been put off to allow an agreement to be reached between PSM and the ministry.
When the matter came before the court for the first time on Nov 22, Senior Federal Counsel Azahar Mohamed from the Attorney-General's Chambers, who is representing the minister, had sought a postponement to facilitate an out-of-court agreement.