BALKIS: High Court rules Selangor government can fight Registrar’s dissolution

[pywong]

High Court rules Selangor government can fight Registrar’s dissolution of BALKIS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — The High Court today ruled that the Selangor government and nine other parties have “locus standi” to challenge the Registrar of Societies' dissolution of Balkis, the welfare and charity organisation of the wives of Selangor assemblymen and MPs.

Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, who made the decision in chambers, said the 10 applicants were not mere busybodies to challenge the ROS decision as they had contributed the money in Balkis' fund.

Counsel Derek J. Fernandez, who represented the applicants, told reporters that the judge, in granting the application for leave for a judicial review filed by the applicants, also held that the matter was of public interest. TheMalaysiaInsider.... (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/37449-high-court-rules-selangor-government-can-fight-registrars-dissolution-of-balkis)

[pywong]

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MB's wife wins case, Balkis to be reinstated (http://malaysiakini.com/news/184284)




11:58AM Dec 16, 2011




The High Court today ordered that Balkis, the Wives of Selangor State Assemblypersons and Members of Parliament Welfare and Charity Organisation, to be reinstated from the time it was deregistered by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) in February 2009.

http://media1-cdn.malaysiakini.com/155/cbcacc68ce41d9b3fc8075a7e4e8aa31.jpgBalkis made the headlines after Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim alleged that there had been misappropriation of Balkis funds under its previous president, Zaharah Kechik (left in photo), the wife of former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo (right in photo).

Justice Rohana Yusuf made the ruling in chambers after meeting counsel S Selvarajah, who appeared for the applicants, and senior federal counsel Azizah Nawawi who acted for the ROS.

The applicants were the Selangor government, Abdul Khalid’s wife Salbiah Tunut, 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.

They filed the judicial review application against ROS to quash ROS’ decision to deregister Balkis and sought a declaration that the decision was illegal, null and void. They also sought the reinstatement of the organisation.
Donors have no locus standi
Selvarajah told reporters that the judge only allowed Salbiah’s application to quash the ROS decision and a mandamus order to compel the ROS to reinstate the organisation on the grounds that she had substantive locus standi to apply for such an order.

“The court held that she (Salbiah) had legitimate expectation to assume office as YDP (president) of Balkis in her capacity of wife of the menteri besar as provided for in the Balkis constitution,” Selvarajah said.

The court rejected the other applicants application as they had no locus standi and were merely donors to the organisation, he said.

Selvarajah also said justice Rohana held that ROS had not properly verified the documentation before deregistering Balkis.

He said the judge said that the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held by members of Balkis to dissolve the organisation on March 11, 2008 was invalid as there were serious defects in the meeting agenda because it did not state the meeting was called for the purpose of dissolution.

“This had prejudiced the members who were deprived of information on the purpose of the EGM,” he said.

- Bernama