Pribumi EGM invalid, says RoS

Registrar: Only 12 supreme council members attend so it fails to meet quorum

PUTRAJAYA: Only 12 supreme council members attended Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) last year, making it invalid, said Registrar of Societies (RoS) director-general Surayati Ibrahim.

RoS does not recognise the meeting held on Nov 2 as an EGM or AGM (annual general meeting) which the party has yet to organise since its inception, she said.

“RoS has scrutinised the party’s 2016 EGM Minutes and found that only 12 members of the supreme council had their attendance recorded.

“In the same meeting, they had also moved to amend the party’s constitution. However, this act contravenes Clause 28 in the party’s constitution,” said Surayati at a press conference here.

Surayati said Clause 28 states that “any amendment to the party’s constitution must be endorsed by not less than 2/3 of the delegates present at the AGM or EGM.”

She also said Pribumi cannot use the term “Armada” to refer to its youth wing as it is not stated in the party’s constitution.

She said RoS received complaints from several “so-called” Armada exco members who were apparently sacked by (Pribumi youth chief ) Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

“Upon realising that Armada does not exist in the party’s constitution, the sacked members felt cheated by the party.

“We received complaints from 33 members on this. The term ‘Armada’ is illegal and not recognised by the RoS, and its usage is an offence that could lead to serious action being taken against the party, including deregistration,” she said.

Surayati reminded Pribumi leadership about Umno’s deregistration in 1988.

“The party leadership must know that the party’s constitution as well as laws relating to societies are a serious matter. In 1988, Umno was declared unlawful for contravening the party’s constitution and the Societies Act,” she said.

Surayati also warned the public not to make “wrongful accusations” against RoS regarding Pribumi.

“In this matter, the party itself failed to comply with its own constitution by naming its youth wing Armada despite not being able to amend its constitution, and also for not organising an AGM.

“I am warning all parties not to manipulate this issue by attacking or making baseless accusations against RoS. If the accusations continue, I will not hesitate to take legal action,” she said.

Pribumi secretary-general Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh was summoned to the RoS earlier this week to give an explanation.