KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional has gone to court to quash a Registrar of Societies (RoS) notice that could lead to its deregistration, and wants the case heard before the Melaka polls, says its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
He said the leave application for judicial review was filed at the High Court at 10.14am on Monday (Oct 5) by the secretaries-general of five of the coalition's six component parties, namely PAS, Gerakan, the Malaysian Indian People's Party (MIPP), Parti Wawasan Negara and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.
The respondents are RoS director-general Datuk Mohd Zulfikar Ahmad and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The coalition wants to quash a Sept 22 show-cause notice under Section 13(2) of the Societies Act 1966 and a Sept 23 order suspending all its activities indefinitely.
"The only reason given was a complaint from Bersatu that Perikatan did not invite it to a meeting on July 16.
"Bersatu's official complaint has never been given to us," he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
Takiyuddin, who is also PAS secretary-general, said Bersatu's president had spoken publicly of five or eight complaints.
"They are part of Perikatan, yet they do not dare bring these complaints to us. That is cowardly," he said.
He said Bersatu was left out after four of its MPs told the RoS on July 13 that its supreme council had only 23 members, short of the 25 needed for quorum under the party's constitution.
He said Perikatan feared its own decisions could be invalid if Bersatu took part while in breach of its constitution, and that Bersatu decided on July 15 to contest under its own logo.
The RoS replied to the four MPs that under Section 18C of the Act, a party's interpretation of its own constitution was final and the department could not interfere, he said.
"If that applies to Bersatu, why is the RoS interfering in who Perikatan invites to its meetings?" he asked.
A certificate of urgency was also filed as the coalition needs a ruling before the Election Commission (EC) meets on Oct 7 on the Melaka polls.
He said the EC had told Perikatan its use of the logo hinged on the RoS. Talks on contesting under the PAS logo, and on working with Barisan Nasional, were ongoing.
"It has not been decided yet. Be patient," he said.
