PPBM holding AGM amid RoS deregistratation threat, says lawyer

PETALING JAYA: PPBM has been “forced” to hold its inaugural annual general meeting (AGM) due to the alleged threat of deregistration by the Registrar of Society (RoS), the party’s legal adviser claims.

Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the party’s supreme council wanted to hold the AGM sometime next year after its 137 divisions had held its meetings, including electing delegates to the AGM.

Haniff said on Nov 21, some of the PPBM office bearers met the RoS director-general Surayati Ibrahim and sought guidance on how it could hold its AGM as the party’s constitution states that only elected delegates could attend the meeting.

They had also presented a proposal to the RoS.

He said the RoS only approved the setting up of divisions from last July and the party was also in the process of setting up branches.

Haniff said the division AGMs could only be held in the presence of delegates from its branches.

“However, the RoS director-general had at a press conference on Nov 25, announced that PPBM’s proposal is against its constitution and the Societies Act.

“Surayati said the party could face the prospect of being deregistered if the AGM is not conducted,” Haniff told FMT on the eve of the PPBM AGM.

He said despite assurances given by RoS, there was no further meeting held between the RoS and the PPBM legal team.

“There has also not been any proper feedback via letters even after the Nov 21 meeting.”

As a result, Haniff said party deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir wrote to the RoS and informed them that the inaugural AGM would be held before Dec 31.

The meeting which is expected to be attended by about 1,000 delegates will be held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam with speeches by party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Haniff said the party leadership would submit its report to the RoS within the 60-day period and it would be left to them to recognise the validity of the AGM.

“The party leadership is prepared for any eventuality and that includes seeking legal redress, to ensure RoS is not used as a political tool to serve the desperate needs of the current government,” he said, adding that PPBM had taken all proper and possible steps to comply with its constitution and the Societies Act. -FMT