Malaysia’s opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) has been ordered to suspend all activities after the Registrar of Societies (RoS) acted on a formal complaint filed by one of its component parties, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
The RoS issued PN a notice on Sept. 22 under Section 13(2) of the Societies Act 1966, giving the coalition a period to explain why its registration should not be cancelled. The department stressed that the notice itself is not a final decision to deregister PN.
A separate suspension order under Section 13(2A) took effect on Sept. 23, freezing PN’s activities while the authorities consider the complaint. RoS said the measure was intended to safeguard the organisation while concerns over possible breaches of its constitution are addressed.
The dispute stems from a complaint Bersatu lodged with RoS on Aug. 11. Among the issues raised was an allegation that Bersatu had been excluded from a PN Supreme Council meeting held on July 16, along with questions concerning the party’s membership status within the coalition.
Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had previously urged RoS to act on the complaint, saying the party had identified eight matters it believed had been breached or disregarded by PN’s current leadership. Bersatu secretary-general Mohamed Azmin Ali has also met RoS to provide clarification on the party’s position.
PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the coalition disagrees with the basis of the RoS action and is taking legal steps to defend its registration, objectives and political agenda. He also called on PN members and supporters to remain calm.
Takiyuddin said PN would not rule out the possibility that the action was influenced by political pressure. That is PN’s allegation, however, and RoS has said the notice was issued to allow the coalition to respond to the complaint rather than representing a final deregistration decision.
The action comes amid wider tensions inside PN. The coalition includes PAS, Bersatu and several other parties, while disagreements over leadership, election cooperation and the participation of Bersatu have increasingly become public.
The timing also coincides with the dissolution of the Melaka state assembly, which sets the stage for a state election. PN has imposed an immediate gag order preventing anyone other than its chairman and secretary-general from speaking publicly on behalf of the coalition.
For now, PN remains registered, but its activities are suspended and it must respond to RoS within the prescribed period. The next legal and administrative steps will determine whether the coalition can resume its activities or faces further action over the complaints raised by Bersatu.
