‘PPBM CAN BE DEREGISTERED’
Party must resolve internal issues, warns RoS
PARTI Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) is facing a possibility of deregistration if it fails to resolve issues concerning a proposed amendment to the party’s constitution, and its failure to hold annual general meetings (AGM) at the division, branch and central levels.
Registry of Societies (RoS) director-general Surayati Ibrahim said it had instructed the party to make certain improvements on its proposed amendments to the party’s constitution.
However, she said the onus was on PPBM to fulfil the requests made by RoS for its proposed amendments to go through.
She said the problem was compounded by the fact that PPBM had yet to conduct its AGM since it was registered a year ago, a violation under its own party constitution as well as under the Societies Act 1966.
“If the party continues to violate the provisions under its own constitution, and violates regulations under the Societies Act 1966, then the party may face a possibility of being deregistered.
“This could happen if it fails to resolve issues that have cropped up.
“The RoS can take action against the party under the Societies Act.
“This is not a negotiable matter.
“If the party fails to abide by laws governing the RoS, and it does not abide by RoS’ instructions, there is a possibility of it being de-registered.
“The party must abide by the law to be fair to its members and supporters,” Surayati told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Surayati said the issues that had affected PPBM’s status as a registered party pertained to the party’s inclusion of its women and youth wings, whereby terms such as Armada (Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda) for the youth wing, and Srikandi for the women’s wing, were not in the party’s constitution.
She said representatives from PPBM had gone “back and forth” to the RoS headquarters to iron out these issues since June, but they were not resolved.
“They only used general terms to refer to the youth and women’s wings (in PPBM’s constitution).
“In June, we had returned a proposal sent by the party on the amendments to its constitution.
“We had made some requests for them to fulfil in our last meeting.
“But they have remained quiet and the matter has not been resolved.”
Another problem was PPBM’s alleged failure to conduct AGMs at its divisions and branches with a minimum quorum.
“What they did hold was a Special Committee Meeting which only involved its supreme council members.
“It did not involve divisional or grassroots members.
“RoS views the matter seriously, as any registered party must resolve in-house matters as stated under the Societies Act,” she said.
PPBM secretary-general Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh said he would meet RoS on Tuesday to aid investigations initiated by complaints lodged by division members in several states.
“I was contacted by RoS and will meet them on Tuesday. I will give my full cooperation to RoS in this matter.
“I am ready to be investigated and will give my full cooperation to RoS,” Shahruddin said after a Johor PPBM meeting here yesterday.
Members of PPBM divisions in Bakri, Kluang, Sembrong, Ayer Hitam, Simpang Renggam, Ledang, Batu Pahat and the youth wing members in Sembrong had lodged reports with RoS on Nov 1 to complain about the party’s alleged failure to hold AGMs.
On Nov 6, a Negri Sembilan PPBM branch also lodged a report with RoS on the failure of the party’s top leadership to adhere to the constitution.