PPBM POORLY ORGANISED, ADMITS DR M

Branches the most disorganised section of party, says PPBM chairman

THE party chairman cites this reason for the failure to hold AGMs at the branch, divisional and central levels. The consequent threat of deregistration from the violation of its constitution hangs over the party like the Sword of Damocles.

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad has admitted that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) failure to hold annual general meetings (AGMs) at the division, branch and central levels is due to its poor organisational structure.

Dr Mahathir, who is PPBM chairman, said the party’s branches and divisions had yet to hold meetings despite allegedly having many members.

“To have an AGM, we need to have meetings at the branch and division levels, but although there are many members, they haven’t organised meetings yet.

“Even some divisions are not properly organised yet, so we can’t determine who will attend the AGM if we hold one,” he told a press conference at the Parliament building here yesterday.

He revealed that the branches were the most disorganised section of the party, which was founded in September last year.

On Sunday, Registry of Societies (RoS) director-general Surayati Ibrahim said PPBM was facing the possibility of deregistration if it failed to resolve issues concerning a proposed amendment to the party’s constitution, and its failure to hold AGMs at the division, branch and central levels.

She said PPBM’s failure to hold an AGM since it was registered a year ago was a violation of its constitution, as well as under the Societies Act 1966.

She said PPBM allegedly failed to conduct AGMs at its divisions and branches with a minimum quorum.

“What they did hold was a Special Committee Meeting, which involved only its supreme council members.

“It did not involve divisional or grassroots members.”

Surayati said these problems remained unresolved despite PPBM going “back and forth” to the RoS headquarters since June.

She also said the issues that affected PPBM’s status as a registered party pertained to the 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. Commenting on Pakatan Harapan’s registration with the RoS, Dr Mahathir said the pact was still waiting to hold a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the opposition coalition had yet to receive word from RoS on whether its application was approved although it was submitted several months ago.

“We are trying to meet the minister (Zahid), but we haven’t received any answers yet.

“We want to know if there are objections or if RoS disagreed with our (application) or if they have suggestions for us,” he added.