PETALING JAYA: Parti Wawasan Negara questions the timing of two notices issued by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) against Perikatan Nasional, suggesting political considerations may be behind the action.
The party said it had been informed that Perikatan had received two notices from the ROS.
“The first notice, dated Sept 22, is the Notice of Representation Before Registration is Cancelled under Section 13(2) of the Societies Act 1966.
“The second notice, dated Sept 23, is the Suspension Order under Section 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966,” it said in a statement Thursday (Sept 24).
Wawasan questioned whether there was a “hidden hand” behind the issuance of the notices, saying their timing coincided with the announcement by the Melaka Chief Minister on the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.
“Wawasan assumes that this action is politically motivated and intended to prevent Perikatan from contesting in the upcoming Melaka state election,” it said.
The party said it would continue working closely with its Peritakan component party partners to ensure that the coalition’s machinery and preparations for the Melaka polls proceeded as planned.
The ROS issued the first notice on Sept 22, clarifying that it was not a decision to cancel Perikatan’s registration but an opportunity for the coalition to respond to a complaint lodged by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), adding that Perikatan was given a reasonable period to respond.
The ROS subsequently issued a suspension order under Section 13(2A), suspending all Perikatan activities with effect from Sept 23.
The department said the order was intended to protect the organisation's interests and prevent continued breaches of its rules.
The complaint by Bersatu concerned an allegation that the party was not included in a Perikatan supreme council meeting on July 16, as well as issues concerning Bersatu’s membership status in the coalition.
The notices came as the Melaka state legislative assembly was dissolved on Sept 23, paving the way for a state election.
Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has also disputed the basis of the ROS action, with the coalition taking legal steps in response.
