Pakatan Rakyat will seek registration as a coalition under the Societies Act

Pakatan Rakyat will seek registration as a coalition under the Societies Act 1966 with the stand taken by the Registrar of Societies Datuk Md Alias Kalil that the law requiring at least seven political parties to register as a society does not apply.

Section 2 of the Societies Act 1966 defines “society” as including

“any club, company, partnership, or association of seven or more persons whatever its nature or object, whether temporary or permanent, but does not include—

(a) any company registered under the provisions of any written law relating to companies for the time being in force in Malaysia;

(b) any company or association constituted under any written law;

(c) any trade union registered or required to be registered under the provisions of any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Malaysia;

(d) any company, association or partnership formed for the sole purpose of carrying on any lawful business that has for its object the acquisition of gain by the company, association or partnership, or by the individual members thereof”.

This has been interpreted as requiring any coalition of political parties to have at least seven constituent political parties to be registered under the Societies Act.

However, as the Registrar of Societies has now taken the position that a coalition of political parties does not fall under this provision, Pakatan Rakyat will seek registration as a coalition under the Societies Act to work for the national reforms and political changes if Malaysia is to restore her national unity, sense of purpose and international competitiveness.