KUALA LUMPUR – The Indian-based Urimai is considering legal action against the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and the Home Ministry to expedite the party’s registration, which has been pending for the past six months since its application.
Its chairman P. Ramasamy said the party might take a similar path as Muda and Parti Sosialis Malaysia by resorting to legal channels to resolve the registration delay.
“I think we have fulfilled all the requirements for registration, but we have not heard anything from the RoS, which comes under the Home Ministry.
“If our application for Urimai’s registration did not meet the requirements, then the RoS should reject our application.
“It serves no purpose for the RoS or the Home Ministry to maintain silence on our registration,” he said in a statement today.
Ramasamy also raised concerns about whether the registration delay stemmed from Urimai assuming the role of the opposition and criticising the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Is it because of the fear that Urimai might influence the Indians in the country to move away from the PH-led coalition?
“If Urimai is considered a mosquito party headed by some disgruntled individuals bent on revenge with no effect on the Indians, why then worry?” he asked.
Ramasamy also said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s silence on Urimai’s registration was not an option.
“(If) the RoS rejects the application of Urimai or keeps silent on the matter of registration, Urimai will pursue the necessary legal action to haul the RoS or the Home Ministry to court.
“If even a minimalist democratic requirement of registration is not accorded to a political party, then what kind of democracy are we talking about?” he asked.
Urimai was established in November by Ramasamy, who had served as Penang’s deputy chief minister II since 2005 but resigned last year after not being chosen as a candidate in the August state election. – June 21, 2024