Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
PETALING JAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin(pic) has accused the Registrar of Societies (RoS) of practising double standards for granting Umno a one-year extension to conduct its party polls.
According to Muhyiddin, the RoS is only responsible for monitoring the administration of a party and does not have the authority to supersede a party's constitution.
He said that Clause 10.16 of the Umno constitution clearly stated that party polls could only be postponed a maximum of 18 months.
Muhyiddin said this during a press conference at Pribumi headquarters in Menara Yayasan Selangor on Thursday.
Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak previously announced the postponement of its party polls in June 2015 to pave the way for preparations for the coming 14th general election.
This meant that party polls should be held by April 19, this year.
However, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said on Wednesday (Feb 28) that the RoS had approved the party's application to postpone party polls to April 19, 2019 at the latest.
Tengku Adnan said the RoS approval was in line with Section 13A(4) of the Societies Act 1966.
It gives the RoS the power to extend the date and period of time for a registered society to hold its internal elections, on condition that a written application is submitted.
Muhyiddin claimed that the RoS was being unfair as Pribumi wasn't offered an extension by the regulatory body to hold its party polls.
"We did not request for 18 months. We only requested for a minor extension but it wasn't granted.
"The RoS even stated that Pribumi would be de-registered if it did not follow the requirements of our party constitution," he said, adding that all political parties should be treated fairly.
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