COMMENT | ROS toying with Pejuang an old trick of the trade

COMMENT | Dr Mahathir Mohamad is truly one of a kind. Love him or loathe him, we owe our grand old man due respect and recognition for his unprecedented staying power in politics.

Mahathir has already set world records – the oldest prime minister in history at 94 and the world’s only 95-year-old member of Parliament today.

If he contests the 15th general election due in 2023, he would be 98. Who are we to say that Mahathir will not be prime minister again at 100? Anything is possible.

Fans of American comedy will surely remember one of its greats, George Burns, who cracked at 90 that he has been booked for a show at 100. That’s a most positive look at life and longevity. Burns did live up to exactly 100 (1896-1996). He died after his sell-out New York event, leaving his two children laughing all the way to the bank. He must have wanted it that way too.

I must also grant Mahathir another record – he is probably the first political leader in the world to establish a new party at 95.

The nonagenarian’s new party, Pejuang, is in the news again. Last week, Pejuang, formed more than four months ago, went to court to compel the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to make a decision on its registration.

Those of us who have been involved in setting up new political parties must surely be aware of how the game is played. It is with such notoriety as politics is – to approve or reject is a political decision.

ROS is a unit under the home ministry, and it is the home minister who has the final say on whether to approve or reject applications to form political organisations.

To put it in a fairer and clearer perspective, the directive will eventually come from the prime minister, if the new party is set up by political heavyweights. Pejuang comprises well-known lawmakers including a former prime minister, so a nod from the sitting prime minister is surely necessary.

Pejuang as an opposition party could also be perceived as a threat to the Perikatan Nasional administration of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. In such a case, it is normal for those in power to make things difficult for the opposition. Delaying or rejecting the registration of a party is an old trick of the trade.

Ask the leaders of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and why they have to wait 10 long years for their party to be registered. Frowning upon socialism and labelling PSM founders as undesirable elements were mere lame excuses, in my opinion.

Of all people, Mahathir himself should be aware of this old trick of the trade. This is a political decision. The constitutional right of citizens to form associations can be considered a farce in many instances.

Here is my personal experience. In early 1996, I was involved in setting up the State Reform Party (Star) of Sarawak. Everything was in order in the application of the new party.

Former Sarawak Assistant Minister the late Dr Patau Rubis was Star’s pro tem president and I, the pro tem secretary-general. As with Pejuang’s case, we waited a few months for the ROS’ decision. It never came.

The seventh Sarawak state election was due later that year (1996) and we wanted to contest under the Star ticket. It was a long and frustrating wait.

Mahathir was then the home minister, and we decided to appeal directly to him. I could still remember clearly the response we received from Mahathir.

He told us not to ‘disturb’ Abdul Taib Mahmud (Sarawak chief minister then) but to allow him to serve one more term as chief minister. Mahathir also promised he would approve the registration of Star the following year.

Left with no choice, we fielded 14 candidates under the common Independent “three keys” symbol in the 1996 state polls held on Sept 7. It was a disastrous outing for Star leaders as we were all defeated; the only consolation was that eight of us managed to retain our deposits.

Mahathir kept his word. He approved Star’s registration on Oct 9, 1997.

From this episode 24 years ago and based on my personal experience, it is indeed disheartening to know that this old trick of the trade is still being played today at the whims and fancies of those in power.

It is clearly stipulated that the right to freedom of association protects the right of all persons to group together voluntarily for a common goal and to form and join an association, be it a political party, an NGO or a trade union.

But do those in power care about such constitutional rights of the citizens? On the contrary, it seems that they find great joy in infringing on this citizen’s right.

Mahathir had declared that Pejuang’s goals were to fight corruption and that other Malay-based parties had strayed from their original paths and have been swayed by money and power.

However shallow that may seem to Mahathir’s detractors, our grand old man and his Pejuang group still reserve their constitutional right to form an association.

I believe Mahathir, who has been through it all knows best how this old trick of the trade will eventually be played out.

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is the author of Hijack in Malaysia: The Fall of Pakatan Harapan. Obtain autographed copies from sirsiah@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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