Muda tells ROS to stop 'dilly-dallying' over its registration

PUTRAJAYA: The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has been slammed for “dilly-dally tactics” by the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) over its prolonged party registration issue.

Muda pro-tem committee member Lim Wei Jiet said the ROS’ reasoning that the proposed names for party sponsors need to be vetted for “security” was merely a delaying tactic.

“On March 21, the ROS informed us that the three names we have submitted to be sponsors for Muda have to be vetted for security first.

“So the appeal that we have submitted to ROS on the rejection of our registration has yet to arrive at the Home Minister’s desk.

“That is because the ROS is still vetting our three sponsors. To us, this is merely a delay tactic to register Muda as a political party, ” said Lim to reporters outside the Home Ministry and the ROS headquarters on Thursday (March 25).

Lim said Muda is a youth-based outfit that merely wants to be formally registered as a legitimate political party, and it should not be seen as a security threat.

“We are only youths who want to have a political party as a platform for our idealism and our politics.

“We are not criminals or terrorists. So why does ROS need to have a vetting process like this?

“Clearly, this is just a reason to delay things, ” he said.

Lim, who is also Muda’s lawyer, added that the ROS’ reasoning was "made up" and not an actual provision in the Societies Act.

Lim led a small group of Muda members to submit a letter of demand to the ROS.

“We are submitting this letter of demand to ROS for them and the Home Ministry to make a decision on Muda’s registration appeal in seven days.

“If there is no action in seven days, we will be forced to take legal action, ” said Lim.

Muda is a group founded by young social activists as well as former Youth and Sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Muda had formally applied with the ROS to be registered as a political party on Sept 17.

After not hearing from the ROS, Muda issued a letter of demand to them on Dec 21, seeking for it to be registered within seven days.

On Jan 6, Muda received a letter from the ROS informing the youth group that their application has been rejected, citing issues with the proposed party constitution.