PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today questioned the Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) professionalism following its announcement that the Umno supreme council leadership can only function in a caretaker capacity until the completion of its 2021 annual general assembly and party polls.
“Are we supposed to believe that ROS is professional and this has got nothing to do with the political impasse now?” demanded PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.
He further recalled a similar tactic employed by ROS back in 2018.
“On April 5, 2018, a month before the 14th General Election (GE14), the ROS issued a temporary suspension order on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), giving the party 30 days to furnish the required particulars or face dissolution.
“The then-ROS director-general Surayati Ibrahim said the order was issued under Section 14(5) of the Societies Act 1966 and prohibited Bersatu from using the name of the party and symbol and carry out party activities during the 30 days.
“Doesn’t this sound familiar? Does anybody believe what ROS is saying?” Arutchelvan told FocusM.
“Before the last election when Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was the Home Minister, he also gave reasons why Bersatu registration was suspended and why Pakatan Harapan (PH) registration as a coalition is not allowed,” he continued.
“The minute PH came to power on May 16, 2018, it was announced that Bersatu and PH were approved by the ROS. Now, Bersatu is doing exactly what Umno has taught them.”
On the topic of the Umno supreme council’s caretaker capacity, ROS director-general Jasri Kasim said that policy decisions must be brought to the general assembly first before implementation because of this caretaker status.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Jasri said ROS had received a letter of explanation from Umno regarding the decision to postpone the party elections for 18 months, which was previously considered as invalid as the postponement decision was made after the expiry of the term of the incumbent Supreme Council for the 2018-2021 term on June 30.
He also said ROS will examine and review the explanation letter first because the party had submitted new information. While the content of the letter could not be revealed, he said, ROS would look into it one by one.
“I have told Umno that this issue is straightforward. We have heard their explanation and will look into it one by one,” he told the Malay daily.
ROS had recommended on Sunday that Umno hold its party elections no later than the end of this year.
The same must be observed by other organisations, not just political organisations that have not held elections or general meetings since last year. – Aug 10, 2021.
