KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu may contest the upcoming Melaka state election under its own party flag if the Registrar of Societies (RoS) suspension barring Perikatan Nasional (PN) from executing political activities remains unresolved.
Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz clarified that while party policy rejects running in elections without coalition backing, PN’s current legal paralysis forces Bersatu to explore alternative options.
He emphasized that the party remains open to partnering with any political entity willing to cooperate, provided core principles and public interests are preserved.
“Based on the RoS notice on the suspension of PN, at this point Bersatu obviously cannot use the PN logo.
“Therefore, among the options available to us at this point is to use the Bersatu logo itself,” Tun Faisal told Scoop.
He added that preliminary discussions with potential partners are already underway, with further details expected shortly.
“Discussions with several parties have also begun. There may be further information on this matter in the near future,” he revealed.
Internal rift triggers RoS crackdown
The party’s predicament follows a Sept 23 notice from the RoS invoking Section 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966, which froze all formal PN activities—including council meetings—pending an internal review.
Tun Faisal noted that all three PN component parties received copies of the directive, confirming that the RoS still formally recognizes Bersatu as a member.
However, he expressed uncertainty over whether PN leadership submitted a formal explanation within the 30-day window stipulated under a separate show-cause notice issued under Section 13(2).
“I am not sure whether PN has submitted its explanation to RoS as required under the RoS directive notice under subsection 13(2), which gives PN an opportunity to explain why its registration should not be cancelled,” he stated.
Addressing reports that PN leadership merely sought clarification from the registrar over complaints lodged by Bersatu, Tun Faisal dismissed the move as inadequate.
“That is not an acceptable response because PN’s secretary-general should already be aware of Bersatu’s complaints, considering he admitted that he had been called by RoS to provide testimony and explanations regarding the complaints made by Bersatu for four hours,” he argued.
“We leave it to RoS to carry out its process.”
Accusations against PAS
Tun Faisal attributed the regulatory crackdown to deliberate, repeated violations of the PN constitution by PAS after the Islamist party assumed leadership and administrative control of the coalition.
He accused PAS of making unilateral decisions that sidelined Bersatu’s rights as a founding component.
“The violations of the PN Constitution, PN rules and regulations, oppression, unilateral actions and sidelining of PN component parties, as well as the denial of the rights of component parties, cannot be allowed to continue,” he stressed.
He pointed to Bersatu’s exclusion from key meetings—including the PN Seat Negotiation Committee and an extraordinary supreme council session on July 16—as proof of systemic marginalization.
He further highlighted an Aug 10 announcement by the PN secretary-general stating the coalition would negotiate directly with Barisan Nasional for the Melaka campaign without involving Bersatu.
Tun Faisal urged PAS leadership to stop deflecting and present concrete evidence to the registrar to clear its name.
“If PAS did not do all the things alleged, they only need to provide explanations and submit the relevant facts and documents to RoS.
“I do not think it would be difficult if they have clear documents and evidence. It is not appropriate to politicise the matter and create narratives that are unrelated to the actual facts.”
With the Melaka polls looming following the dissolution of the state assembly on Sept 23, Bersatu’s strategy signals a willingness to redraw its electoral partnerships rather than remain immobilized by PN’s regulatory standoff. – October 3, 2026