KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Minister must now register the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) as a political party in the next 14 days, the High Court ruled.

       Justice Noorin Badaruddin made the order after allowing a judicial review application by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and 12 other individuals who challenged the decision by the Home Minister and the Registrar of Societies (ROS) that rejected their appeal to register Muda as a political party.

       Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet, who represented Syed Saddiq and the 12, said that the court also granted RM10,000 in costs to Muda.

       "The court was of the opinion that the Home Minister's reason to reject Muda's appeal on grounds of prejudice to national security was baseless," he told the press here on Tuesday (Dec 14).

       Federal Counsel Mohammad Sallehuddin Ali appeared for the respondents.

       On Sept 21, Syed Saddiq and the 12 others obtained leave to initiate legal proceedings against the Home Minister and the ROS for rejecting their appeal to register Muda as a political party.

       The plaintiffs had filed a fresh judicial review application last Aug 24 and named the Home Minister and the ROS as the first and second respondent, respectively.

       They are seeking a declaration that their application to register Muda as a political party was in order and in compliance with all the requirements under the Societies Act 1966.

       They are also seeking a mandamus order for both respondents to register Muda as a political organisation within 14 days from the date of the order, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages and other relief and orders deemed fit by the court.

       Last Aug 18, Muda withdrew its judicial review application to file a fresh one on grounds that it had become academic as the Home Minister had made a decision on their appeal on Aug 12.