Malaysia canceled the registration of opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) on Oct. 20, threatening its ability to contest Melaka's Nov. 14 state election under a single banner.
The Election Commission has set Oct. 31 for candidate nominations, with voters due to fill 28 state assembly seats. Reuters reported that PN's member parties would be unable to field candidates under the coalition's banner if the cancellation remains in force.
The Registrar of Societies said PN's Oct. 12 response failed to refute the grounds for deregistration set out in its Sept. 22 notice. That notice followed a complaint by coalition member Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
Bersatu alleged that it had been excluded from a July 16 PN leadership meeting. The registrar said it received the complaint Aug. 11. Reuters reported that Bersatu and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) have been competing to lead the coalition.
Reuters described the Melaka election as a test for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after defeats in two other regional votes earlier this year.
PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the coalition would challenge the cancellation in court and seek a stay of the order, The Star reported. He alleged that the decision was intended to weaken the opposition before the Melaka vote.
A court is scheduled to hear PN's application to stay a separate, earlier suspension of its activities on Oct. 22, after allowing the coalition to seek judicial review, Bernama reported.
