Takiyuddin questions decision to ‘override’ ROS’ ruling

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior leader of Perikatan Nasional has questioned the decision by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to “override” a recent decision by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) against Umno.

Kota Baru MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (pic), a former law minister, raised the issue after the emergence of an alleged letter from ROS nullifying the resolution passed at Umno’s 2022 general assembly on the no-contest motion for the party’s top two posts.

“I am not sure if this letter is genuine or not, but what was said by the Home Minister contradicts what was decided with regard to the exemption given to Umno under Section 13(1)(c)(iv) of the resolution.

“This issue is of public interest.

“If this is the practice, can other associations use this as an example or a precedent?” Takiyuddin, who is also PAS secretary-general, said when debating Budget 2023 in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He also asked if the decision by the Home Minister would be a “binding precedent” when applied to associations that might be aligned with either side of the political divide.

The letter surfaced shortly after Saifuddin released a statement yesterday confirming that his ministry had granted an exemption to Umno under the Societies Act 1966 regarding the resolution.

In the letter dated March 2 that has since gone viral on social media, ROS purportedly informed Umno that the resolution was against the party’s constitution and invalid.

It was reported last month that ROS was investigating alleged violations of Umno’s party constitution with regard to the approval of the resolution at its 2022 general assembly.