UMNO PRESIDENT Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today expressed his gratitude for the Federal Court’s decision on the judicial review by the 16 former members of the party.

“All praises to God. Representing the entire UMNO leadership and members, in God we trust,” he said in a Facebok posting.

The Federal Court chaired by Chief Justice of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed today rejected the application of 16 former UMNO members who are allegedly against the UMNO Constitution.

According to one of the lawyers representing UMNO, Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, the decision of the Court of Appeal has been upheld and the court has stated that the election process made in 2018 was valid and applicable.

Soon after the decision was passed on via a virtual conference after the matter was debated by both parties, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan who was with him said the decision was unanimous by five judges chaired by Azahar.

Ahmad added that according to the court, the 16 people who brought the case were no longer UMNO members according to Clause 20.7 of the UMNO Constitution.

Similarly, Section 18C of the Societies Act is not contrary to Article 121 of the Federal Constitution, that any decision of a political party cannot be challenged in court.

In the judgment as well, the court said the issue of judicial review had also become academic as UMNO had implemented the election process in June 2018 and it was clear that it was a public policy, that the court would not interfere in the affairs of political parties.

The lawyer representing UMNO is Datuk Hafarizam Harun while representing 16 former UMNO members is Hanif Khatri while Shamsul Boshasnan represented the RoS.