Hindraf fails in suit against ROS | Free Malaysia Today

The Kuala Lumpur High Court said the Register of Societies has not made a decision on Hindraf's application for registration and as such there was no case against it.

PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed Hindraf Makkal Sakthi’s application to quash the Putrajaya and Federal Territories Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) decision for not allowing the registration of Hindraf Makkal Sakthi with costs.

In his verdict, Judge Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim said the ROS has yet to make a decision on the registration and therefore there was no case against it.

In April, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi filed a suit against ROS for failing to register the non-governmental organisation despite being given 14 days to provide an answer to the status of the application.

The NGO submitted its application to the ROS in October 2009.

Also named in the suit were Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
When contacted, Hindraf pro tem secretary general P Uthayakumar said the judge’s ruling showed that the ROS was above the law.

“ROS never even filed an affidavit in the court but the judge said it was immaterial. He never even gave us a proper hearing. This is against the rule of natural justice,” Uthayakumar said.

He criticised the authorities for being biased against Hindraf.

“About 54 of our members were arrested for being in an illegal organisation. When we apply for registration, they don’t reply and when we go to court, they dismiss us,” he said.

Uthayakumar said he will file an appeal against the ruling today and vowed to exhaust all legal means to get Hindraf registered.

“Over 14,000 NGOs and 31 political parties were registered with no issues. Why single out Hindraf?”asked Uthayakumar.