PKR to challenge ROS de-registration threat as talk of GE grows louder

Bracing for the worst, PKR leaders will try to pre-empt the Najib administration from de-registering their party over a non-existent clause in their constitution as well as for an alleged unlawful dismissal of a similarly non-existent member.

"We have to be pro-active because it is very clear Najib and UMNO will use every trick in the book to block us from being effective in the coming general election," a PKR insider told Malaysia Chronicle.

The party has confirmed that a team led by vice-president N Surendran will file an application at the Jalan Duta court complex in Kuala Lumpur at 2pm to challenge the threat by the Registrar of Societies to strike the party off the lists.

Speculation is rife that snap polls may held as early as July or just after Hari Raya in late August. This expectation was further boosted by Monday's decision to raise power tariffs using a multi-tier system that spared the poorest families and lower-usage groups.

However, the electricity hike is seen as a stop-gap measure that cannot alleviate the serious cashflow problems Malaysia will face due to a fast-widening budget deficit exacerbated by poor financial planning and soaring global oil prices.

Once the 13th General Election is done with and if the BN is returned to power, Najib is expected to raise prices again - this time including RON95 or the commonly used brand of petrol.

"We are already moving into June, which means Najib has only 7 months to narrow back the budget deficit. The power hikes will not help much. The biggest is still the subsidy given to the crony-IPPs which is RM19 billion alone but he is not touching that at all," PKR vice president Tian Chua had told Malaysia Chronicle.

Unable to entice PAS, the next step will be to 'axe' PKR

Two weeks ago, the ROS shocked PKR with a show-cause letter asking PKR to state "satisfactory reasons" why it should not be de-registered for violating Article 32.2.1 of the party's constitution.

In its letter, ROS claimed PKR had intentionally violated its constitution by sacking Rajagopal Andaikkalam on April 1 and April 27 in 2009, without the matter being brought up or investigated by the party's discplinary board.

Signed by registrar Abdul Rahman Othman, the letter further contended that PKR had unlawfully sacked Rajagopal without giving him the right of reply. Abdul Rahman said he was exercising his powers under Section 13 sub-section (2) of the Societies Act 1966 to issue the notice of deregistration, which will take effect unless the party puts up a satisfactory defence in writing before June 9.

PKR has since made it clear that there was no such clause as "Article 32.2.1" in its constitution and no such member by the name of Rajagopal Andaikkalam.

But none of its leaders, including de-facto head Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, is putting it past a Najib-bolsetered ROS to hammer through all sorts of obstacles to prevent it from contesting.

"UMNO is trying very hard to get PAS to accept a merger and leave the Pakatan Rakyat. Nik Aziz has already confirmed PAS was offered 3 minister's post if it joined BN. But PAS is committed to Pakatan, so de-registering PKR will be the last resort," PAS leader Khalil Idham had told Malaysia Chronicle.

- Malaysia Chronicle