.png)
SHAH ALAM – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) maintains that it remains a legitimate member of Perikatan Nasional (PN), arguing that only the coalition's Presidential Council has the authority to decide on a member party's status.
Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang's claim that Bersatu had automatically ceased to be part of PN was inconsistent with the coalition's constitution.
He stressed that no provision in the PN Constitution allows a member party's membership to lapse automatically.
"Bersatu's position as a member party of Perikatan Nasional can only be determined by the Presidential Council under Clause 7A of the PN Constitution.
"To date, the Presidential Council has never convened to decide on Bersatu's membership. Therefore, Bersatu remains a lawful member of Perikatan Nasional," he said in a statement on Friday.
Azmin also rejected Hadi's assertion that Bersatu's membership ended after party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced plans to form a new political coalition.
He said the Pas president had no authority to make such a determination.
"Hadi has neither the right nor veto power to decide Bersatu's position within Perikatan Nasional.
"Such a statement demonstrates a lack of basic understanding of the PN Constitution," he said.
Azmin further argued that Bersatu's rights as a member party were protected under Clause 7 of the coalition's constitution, which guarantees member parties the right to attend, participate and vote in meetings of PN's Supreme Council, state liaison committees and divisional liaison committees.
He claimed Bersatu representatives were prevented from attending the PN Supreme Council meeting on July 16, during which decisions were made on seat allocations and cooperation with Barisan Nasional for the recent Negeri Sembilan state election.
According to him, the move was contrary to the coalition's own constitution.
As a result, Bersatu will lodge a formal complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS), alleging a serious breach of the PN Constitution.
Azmin also accused the Pas-led leadership of disregarding the coalition's governing principles.
"PN, now dominated by Pas, no longer upholds its own constitution, has abandoned the principles of good governance, and is acting arbitrarily and undemocratically," he said.
He added that Bersatu would continue to pursue the matter through legal and constitutional channels while remaining committed to the principles of justice, moderation and constitutional governance.
The dispute follows Abdul Hadi's recent statement that Bersatu had automatically lost its membership in PN after Muhyiddin announced plans to establish a new political alliance involving several parties, including those under Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR).
