KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional is adamant that the coalition has been wrongly deregistered by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and has vowed to contest the decision.
The coalition will challenge the validity of the revocation order and seek a stay of its implementation, secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said.
Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar also questioned the timing of the decision, which came just days before nominations for the Melaka state polls.
Earlier yesterday, the RoS said Perikatan was issued a notice dated Sept 22 to submit an explanation and representations regarding matters raised under the Societies Act 1966.
“We (RoS) received a response from Perikatan on Oct 12.
“After examining all the submitted documents and explanations, we found that the reasons given did not refute the grounds for deregistration stated in the notice or provide sufficient justification for maintaining the coalition’s registration.
“Consequently, we have decided to cancel Perikatan’s registration,” the statement read.
Any appeal must be lodged within 30 days of the RoS decision.
Takiyuddin said the coalition would seek a stay of the order and all its effects pending a court’s ruling on its legal challenge against the deregistration.
The High Court had previously granted Perikatan leave to commence a judicial review against an RoS suspension order on its activities.
The hearing of the stay application is scheduled for tomorrow.
Takiyuddin said Perikatan would begin its legal challenge with an application during tomorrow’s hearing.
“This decision to act before the hearing has raised serious questions about the government’s respect for judicial proceedings.
“The High Court granted Perikatan leave after the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) requested a hearing involving both parties,” he said.
He added that the AGC’s submissions to the court on Oct 19 stated that the deregistration process was still ongoing, without mentioning that the decision would be made the following day.
“We have urged the Attorney General to explain the action taken in light of his department’s position in court,” Takiyuddin told a press conference in Parliament yesterday.
Ahmad Samsuri, meanwhile, alleged that the move was politically motivated and pointed to an attempt to undermine the coalition.
He said the Election Commission (EC) had sent a letter to Perikatan just two days earlier seeking its response on the use of the coalition’s logo in the election.
“What happened a day before the case was brought to court was extraordinary, indeed, almost unprecedented,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
“Remember, the people’s wave cannot easily be extinguished by politicians hiding behind their positions of power,” he said.
With the RoS decision, political parties under the coalition will now have to decide which logo to use for the Melaka election.
Takiyuddin said there was still time for discussions before a decision is made.
He pointed to the 2018 General Election, when Pakatan Harapan component parties contested under the PKR logo, saying that the arrangement was not opposed by DAP, Bersatu or Amanah.
“Even parties that are not registered as established political parties can contest. Independent candidates (can use)... all sorts of symbols,” he said.
Perikatan comprises PAS, Wawasan, Gerakan, MIPP and Pejuang.
Bersatu, a founding member of Perikatan, has found itself ostracised from the coalition.
