PAKATAN Harapan will haul the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to court if the opposition coalition is not registered in time to face the 14th general election which must be held by August.

PH legal bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo said the RoS had issued a letter to DAP stating that the component party’s central executive committee re-election on November 12 last year complied with all the stipulated requirements.

He added that there is no longer any reason to delay PH’s registration as Bersatu has also held its annual general meeting (AGM) in Johor on December 30.

PH comprises DAP, Bersatu, PKR and Amanah.

Gobind said all requirements set by the RoS at a meeting between the opposition leaders and the registrar on November 20 have been met, but the registrar has not responded to letters or requests for updates.

“This is a serious matter and one that requires the urgent attention of the RoS,” Gobind told reporters at the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Of course, if the RoS doesn’t respond to us, then we have no choice but to seek further recourse, which includes legal proceedings.”

“This is something that has been discussed at our meetings and of course I will have to get instructions from the (PH) committee again and we may just have to end up filing a suit in court,” he said. 

Bersatu and DAP were said to be the main obstacles in PH’s registration as a legally recognised coalition. PH submitted its application for registration on July 24 last year. 

“What is required of Bersatu and DAP has now been complied with and it is now for the RoS to respond,” Gobind said, referring to a letter received by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng yesterday.

In the letter, the RoS said it “agreed” the full report of the re-election be kept by the firm, Grant Thornton for a period of time as required by the party’s constitution.

The international audit firm Grant Thornton, which was appointed by DAP, submitted a full report of its central executive committee re-election through a letter dated November 27 last year.

Gobind said there has been no other communication from RoS.

“My question to the RoS is why hasn’t the registration of Pakatan been resolved? We are facing a looming election, so we need an answer as soon as possible.

“We cannot wait any longer for RoS to come to a decision. We have no choice other than to bring the matter to court so that a decision is made,” said the Puchong MP.

“The RoS has to be more professional. When a letter is written, there should be a reply in black and white with reasons stated,” Gobind said, adding that PH leaders have continually requested for a meeting.

Asked what would happen if the registrar does not approve PH’s registration when election is called, Gobind replied: “We will come to that later. Let us take one step at a time.”

“Of course, we have backup plans, as our chairman (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) has indicated earlier in press conferences. We are not going into details now.

Opposition lawmakers have previously accused the RoS of colluding with the ruling government to delay the coalition’s registration. – February 6, 2018.