Bersatu had right to complain to ROS over PN management – Tun Faisal

 

Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has defended the party’s decision to lodge a complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over the management of Perikatan Nasional, saying it was exercising its rights as a component party of the coalition.

As ROS still recognised Bersatu as a member of PN, Faisal said the party was entitled to "seek justice" over any alleged breaches of the coalition's constitution and rules by PAS.

In a statement today, he claimed that PAS' failure to rectify the situation, along with its actions in excluding Bersatu from Negeri Sembilan seat negotiations as well as a PN supreme council meeting, led to the formal complaint with the ROS.

"After being accused of abusing power, repeatedly violating the constitution, and suppressing or denying Bersatu’s rights, does PAS think it can simply walk away unscathed?" he asked.

Painting PAS as a "narcissistic manipulator", he argued that Bersatu played a central role in forming PN, which included coming up with the coalition's logo, colours, name, constitution, and registration.

"Furthermore, the funding from the coalition's inception up to the 15th general election was secured by Bersatu, not PAS," he added.

Yesterday, PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan announced that the coalition has filed a judicial review application to challenge ROS' two notices.

He said PN is seeking an urgent court hearing so that it receives clarity on the coalition's status and whether it can contest the Malacca polls under the PN logo.

On Sept 22, Takiyuddin confirmed that PN received a show-cause notice from the ROS, warning the coalition of imminent deregistration.

It received a separate notice on Sept 23 ordering it to cease activities under the coalition’s name.

'No need to play victim'

Tun Faisal further urged Takiyuddin to address Bersatu's complaints.

He challenged PAS to provide meeting minutes, correspondence, and other documents if it believed no breaches of the coalition’s constitution had occurred.

"There is no need to play the victim or push narratives devoid of evidence and facts (while) acting as if others are cowardly or are unjustly victimising PN without cause," he said.

Tun Faisal said Bersatu also had the right to consider ways out of the dispute, including through legal avenues or exploring new political cooperation, following what he described as repeated unilateral actions and attacks by PAS.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia PPBM logo generic. Pix Mukhriz Hazim 160821 003

He alleged that PAS had itself held discussions with Umno behind PN’s back, established contact with the faction led by Hamzah Zainudin before the formation of Wawasan Negara, repeatedly discussed reviving Muafakat Nasional, and was linked to the so-called “Bangkok move” to topple the Madani government.

He also alleged that PAS had held discussions with external parties without PN’s knowledge during the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

“If one were to apply Takiyuddin’s own logic, PAS would have lost its membership in PN first,” he claimed.

'Not meeting quorum'

On Aug 11, ROS confirmed it had received an official complaint from Bersatu alleging that the party was excluded from PN’s supreme council meeting on July 16, among other issues concerning its position in the coalition.

However, Takiyuddin (below) yesterday said the meeting was called to discuss the Negeri Sembilan election and other matters, but PN decided not to invite Bersatu after the party’s top leadership decided on July 15 that it would contest the polls under its own logo rather than the coalition's.

He reiterated his concern that Bersatu’s involvement could invalidate PN’s decisions because the party was unable to meet the quorum required under its constitution for its supreme council meetings.

Takiyuddin said Bersatu’s constitution requires a quorum of 25, but the party has only 23 supreme council members. - Mkini