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The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has rejected applications by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) and Syed Saddiq’s Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) to be registered as official political parties.
According to Malaysiakini, the ROS did not state exactly why it moved to do so.
It’s understood that both parties feel that the government has denied their right of association, and to participate in the democratic process of the country.
“In our view, the ROS has no basis to reject MUDA’s registration and no reason was given for the rejection. This is an attempt by the government to disadvantage and prejudice MUDA in the upcoming general election,” said MUDA co-founder Dr Thanussha Francis Xavier.
Thanussha added that MUDA will be considering challenging the rejection in court.
Meanwhile, this is a second hurdle for Pejuang, after the party had filed for judicial review last month, to compel the ROS to make a decision regarding the party’s registration status since its formation in August last year.
Party president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir had earlier said that if Pejuang's registration is rejected, the party may consider contesting the next general election under another party or on a coalition's ticket, rather than as third-party independents.
The party is set to hold a press conference later this evening (January 7th).
It’s important to note that both party leaders, Tun M and Syed Saddiq, were ousted from their previous party Bersatu, which is now the main component of the ruling coalition, Perikatan Nasional.
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
