The appeal by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) against the dismissal of its order to de-register the Selangor Assemblypersons and MPs Wives Association (Balkis) has been rejected by the Federal Court.

The decision was made by a five-member bench led by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum.

The others were Federal Court judges Suriyadi Halim Omar, Zaleha Zahari, Ramly Ali and Abu Samah Nordin.

With yesterday's decision, lawyers Derek Fernandez ( left ) and S Selvarajah, who appeared for the Selangor government, said the decision by the Court of Appeal stands.

These means that the ROS’ move to de-register Balkis is not valid.

The organisation can now operate under its new membership headed by Salbiah Tunut, wife of Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Salbiah can also sue the previous office-bearers, led by the wife of former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, to recover money and take action against those who misused Balkis' funds.    

On April 18 last year, a three-member Court of Appeal bench upheld the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court in allowing Salbiah's application to re-instate Balkis, which the ROS had de-registered in 2009.

The Court of Appeal panel comprising Justices Balia Yusof Wahi, Lim Yee Lan and Hamid Sultan Abu Backer also allowed the appeal by the Selangor government and eight subsidiary companies to be reinstated as plaintiffs.

The eight others were Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad, Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad, Selangor State Development Corporation, Worldwide Holdings Berhad, Selangor Industrial Corporation Sdn Bhd, Selaman Sdn Bhd, PKNS Infra Berhad and PKNS Engineering & Construction Bhd.

On  Dec 16, 2011, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Salbiah's application for judicial review for reinstating Balkis’ registration.

At that time, the court held Salbiah had legitimate expectations to assume the office of Yang di Pertua (president) of Balkis in her capacity of wife of the MB as provided for in the Balkis constitution.

Balkis created headlines in 2009 following Khalid's allegations that there had been misappropriation of Balkis funds under its previous president, Zaharah Kechik, who is Khir Toyo's wife.