THE Registrar of Societies (ROS) has rejected the application of Parti Kuasa Rakyat to be registered as a political party, its founder Kamarazaman Yaakob said. 

Kamarazaman, who is the elder brother of former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, said the application was rejected by ROS “a couple of months back”, but was unable to confirm exactly when it happened.  

“A central committee meeting will be held soon, probably after the month-long Raya festive season to decide the next action.” 

“The committee will meet to discuss whether to appeal the ROS’ decision or to submit a new application. For now, there is no decision on it,” Kamarazaman told The Malaysian Insight. 

The party, which was launched in October 2021, vowed to champion the rights of the poor. 

Kamarazaman asserted that the party had more than 70,000 members. 

During its launch, Pahang-born Kamarazaman, also fondly known as Bung Zaman, said the party would be Barisan Nasional-friendly. 

In December, Kamarazaman took over the Indian-based Minority Rights Action Party (Mira) in his bid to get Kuasa registered officially with ROS. He was appointed as the pro-tem president of Mira. 

K. Palanisamy, the former MIC central working committee member who led Mira, said the party would retain its name until it applied to ROS to have it changed to Kuasa. 

In February 2022, however, Kamarazaman was dropped as pro-tem president by Mira, which cited technical issues arising from Kuasa’s application status with the ROS.   

In August 2022, Kuasa announced a strategic partnership with Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) to face the last general election.  

Some months later, Kamarazaman said Kuasa would not be working with PBM due to ideological differences. 

Kamarazaman added that Kuasa would sit out the soon-to-be-held state polls. 

“We do not find it right to move as an unregistered party,” he said. 

Until the party’s central committee decided its next course of action, Kuasa would not restrict its members from supporting any side in the state polls, Kamarazaman added. 

“It is up to the individuals who they want to support, be it the government or opposition,” he said. 

Kamarazaman has always expressed a desire to make Kuasa a component party of BN. – May 12, 2023.