The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has ordered Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) to temporary disband for 30 days.
- If Pribumi fails to fulfil RoS’ request for more documents within 30 days, the party will be permanently disbanded
- PH’s common symbol to be announced tomorrow – likely to be PKR’s logo
- For the first time, no ‘rocket’ for DAP in GE14
- Mahathir likely to contest under PKR’s ticket
RoS director-general Surayati Ibrahim said Pribumi has failed to fulfil the RoS’ notice requesting for documents and details regarding its annual general meeting (AGM) that was held in December last year.
The RoS has served Pribumi with the temporary disbandment notice under Section 14 of the Societies Act 1966 at 12.30pm on Thursday (April 5).
It comes amid speculation that Parliament will be dissolved tomorrow to pave the way for the 14th general election.
Pribumi, co-founded by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamd, is not allowed to use its logo or conduct any party activity during its disbandment.
It has 30 days to fulfil RoS’ request for more documents, failing which, the party will be permanently disbanded.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) component party can lodge an appeal within the 30 days.
The disbandment came as Pakatan filed a judicial review on Feb 21 in its bid to obtain a court order to compel the RoS to respond to its letter to become a registered coalition.
In its affidavit, PH stated that it wrote a letter on July 28 last year to the RoS director-general to register the coalition and again on Aug 21 and most recently Feb 6, 2018, asking for a response.
Pakatan claimed that it did not get a reply and is seeking a mandamus order for the respondent to register it as a coalition under the Societies Act 1966.
The Home Ministry had earlier said ongoing investigations into Pribumi due to complaints received over its AGM is holding up PH’s registration as a formal coalition.
Without RoS’ approval of its registration, PH will not be able to use its official logo to contest in the polls and will likely use PKR logo to contest in the general election.
Pakatan Harapan comprises PKR, DAP, Pribumi and Amanah.
Earlier, PH leaders said they had agreed to use a common symbol to go to the polls. The coalition said the symbol, which now will be either PKR, DAP or Amanah, will be announced at a rally in Johor tomorrow.
Speculation is rife that the most likely logo will be PKR’s, especially in view of DAP’s announcement today that it would not be using its ‘rocket’ logo in peninsular Malaysia for GE14 – a first since its formation.
Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the DAP agreed to “sacrifice” its logo for a common one to be used by all PH component parties in their bid to wrest Putrajaya from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
“This is not an easy decision for us to make,” he said.
However, he added that Sabah and Sarawak DAP will have autonomy to decide whether they will use the “rocket” on its ballot papers for the elections or otherwise.
With Pribumi’s temporary disbandment, Mahathir is expected to contest under PKR’s ticket in the upcoming general election.