KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) has failed to obtain an interim stay of a Registrar of Societies (RoS) order suspending all its activities indefinitely, but the High Court has granted the coalition leave to challenge the decision through a judicial review.
Judge Datuk Azizan Md Arshad fixed Oct 22 to hear PN’s application for an inter partes stay of the suspension notice.
He ruled that the issues raised by PN had crossed the required threshold to warrant further arguments at the hearing.
The decision followed submissions by lawyer Ivanpal Singh Grewal, representing PN, and Senior Federal Counsel Nurhaffiza Azizan, who appeared for the respondents.
The suspension could affect PN’s participation in the Melaka state election on Nov 14, as the coalition would be unable to use its logo if the order remains in force.
On Oct 5, PN filed an application for judicial review to challenge the suspension notice issued by RoS.
The application was filed by the secretaries-general of PN and its component parties: Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who serves as secretary-general of both PN and Pas; Wong Chia Zhen of Gerakan; Satish Kumar of the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP); Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah of Parti Wawasan Negara; and Datuk Sazmi Miah of Parti Pejuang.
PN named Registrar of Societies Datuk Mohd Zulfikar Ahmad and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as the first and second respondents, respectively.
In its application, PN argued that unless the suspension was stayed or overturned before nomination day for the Melaka polls, the order would undermine its ability to contest the election.
The coalition is seeking a certiorari order to quash the suspension order dated Sept 23, 2026, issued under subsection 13(2A) of the Societies Act 1966. The order suspends all PN activities except those necessary to respond to the notice proposing the cancellation of its registration.
PN is also challenging a separate notice dated Sept 22, issued under subsection 13(2) of the same Act, which states the intention to cancel the coalition’s registration after 30 days.
On Sept 24, RoS confirmed that PN’s activities had been suspended under subsection 13(2A) of Act 832.
The department said the notice was intended to obtain an explanation from PN regarding complaints lodged by Bersatu, stressing that it did not amount to a decision to cancel the coalition’s registration.
RoS had earlier confirmed receiving a formal complaint from Bersatu, which included allegations that the party had been excluded from a PN Supreme Council meeting on July 16. – October 13, 2026