Only ‘Youth’ found in PPBM’s constitution, not ‘Armada’ — ROS

PUTRAJAYA: The Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) statement on the term “Armada” used by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) to refer to its youth wing was made based on the party’s constitution in which only the word “Youth” was used and not “Armada”, says ROS directorgeneral Surayati Ibrahim.

As such, she said, Armada was an illegal entity and unrecognised by ROS and might be the reason for serious action to be taken against PPBM and its leadership, including deregistration of the party.

Earlier this month, Surayati was also reported as saying that since Armada was not in the PPBM’s constitution, the use of the term could cause the party’s deregistration under the Societies Act 1966.

“This Armada issue is very serious and shows total disregard for the Societies Act,” she told a press conference yesterday.

She also said that she would not hesitate to take legal action against those who manipulated the issue and made baseless allegations against ROS.

Surayati said PPBM was also in violation of its own constitution and the Societies Act for failing to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) within a year after its formation.

“The party leaders should be well aware that a violation of the party’s constitution and laws related to societies is a very serious offence. In 1988, even UMNO was banned for going against its own constitution and Societies Act,” she added.

Meanwhile, PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told a press conference in Pagoh that the party would adhere to all ROS’ instructions, including not using the word Armada to refer to its youth wing.

Instead, he said the party would use the term “PPBM Youth” to refer to the movement until the ROS approved its application to amend the party’s constitution to use the term “Armada”.

“The party leadership has agreed to change (to Armada), but we have to submit an approval application to ROS first. So, until we get the approval, we cannot use Armada...we will issue a directive to our youth members to use PPBM Youth instead, but we hope ROS will give our application the due consideration,” he said.

Muhyiddin also said that the party would convene a meeting with ROS soon to learn if there were any other ROS requirements that the party needed to fulfill.

“We will try to be in compliance with ROS regulations, and sincerely speaking, I think we have done everything by the book,” Muhyiddin added.

Asked whether the issue would jeopardise PPBM’s chances to contest in the 14th general election, he refused to speculate, saying what was important now was to solve the issue with ROS.