KUALA LUMPUR: "PN is back!"
That was the jubilant declaration by Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan after the High Court today granted the coalition a stay on its suspension and deregistration by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
The decision brought relief to the coalition just nine days before nomination day for the Melaka election, allowing it, according to its lawyers, to resume political activities and preparations to contest under its own name and symbol.
Speaking at a press conference after the proceedings, Takiyuddin expressed his gratitude to the coalition's legal team, led by former Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun.
He described the ruling as a significant development for PN, which had been fighting to overturn its suspension on Sept 23 and subsequent deregistration on Oct 20.
"I don't want to say too much. I just want to say two things. PN is back! PN is back!" he said.
Also present at the press conference were Wawasan Negara president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, Malaysian Indian People's Party president P. Punithan, Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.
Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, who was part of the coalition's legal team, said the court's decision meant PN could resume its normal political activities, including contesting the Melaka election.
He confirmed that the stay covered both the suspension and deregistration orders issued by RoS.
"In simple terms, it means maintaining the status quo.
"We can contest, we can use the logo and we can continue all our activities, including in Melaka and later in Sarawak," he said.
However, Rafique stressed that the High Court had yet to determine whether RoS' decisions to suspend and deregister PN were lawful.
He said those questions would only be decided during the substantive hearing of the coalition's judicial review application.
Rafique said the dispute was not merely about the coalition's political survival but also involved the interests of voters and elected representatives.
Earlier, High Court judge Datuk Azizan Md Arshad allowed PN's stay application pending the disposal of its judicial review application, finding exceptional circumstances warranting interim relief.
The judge ruled that RoS' decision to cancel PN's registration on Oct 20 did not automatically render the stay application academic.
However, the court did not determine the legality of RoS' decisions, leaving those issues to be decided during the substantive judicial review.
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