PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional breached its constitution when it barred Bersatu from attending, expressing its views and voting at the coalition’s supreme council meetings as a component party, claims Datuk Mohamed Azmin Ali.
The Bersatu secretary-general said this formed the basis of the party’s complaint against Perikatan, which led to the Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) suspension order against the coalition and halted its activities from Wednesday (Sept 23).
“According to a ROS media release dated Sept 24, they requested Perikatan to provide an explanation regarding the complaint reported.
“I emphasise that Bersatu made a written complaint on Aug 11 to ROS regarding the breach of Perikatan’s constitution by the new leadership.
“Among other things, the complaint stated that Bersatu was not included in the Perikatan supreme council meeting on July 16, as well as issues regarding Bersatu’s membership status in the Perikatan coalition,” Azmin said in a statement on Friday (Sept 25).
He said that Perikatan denying Bersatu’s right to attend, express opinions, and vote in supreme council meetings violated Clause 7.1 of its constitution.
Bersatu’s complaint also made a claim of the existence of a “veto power” within Perikatan’s leadership that influenced decisions made by the supreme council.
“Individuals who are not office bearers in the Perikatan supreme council often issue statements that can be deemed as a threat and pressure to strip and/or remove Bersatu as a legitimate member party of Perikatan.
“This practice contradicts the powers granted to the Perikatan presidential council under the party’s constitution,” Azmin added.
He said he gave a statement to ROS on Aug 18 in Putrajaya regarding the complaint as Bersatu’s representative and extended full cooperation to the registrar’s investigators.
“ROS informed us that they are conducting a review of the issues raised based on the Societies Act 1966, related regulations and the Perikatan constitution,” he said.
Azmin urged the Perikatan leadership against diminishing ROS’ authority via baseless accusations to gain political sympathy and mask the failures of the current Perikatan leadership.
“ROS has repeatedly issued written warnings to Perikatan, ensuring that the organisation carries out all its activities in line with the Societies Act 1966 [Act 832] and the Perikatan Nasional Constitution.
“We will always carry out our responsibility to uphold the Perikatan constitution and ensure the administration of this party is transparent, of high integrity and upholds the principle of accountability,” he added.
