The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has been urged to be proactive instead of reactive in cleansing the phantom membership records of political parties in the country.

"The Registrar seems to be a sleeping beauty waiting for someone to wake it from its slumber and remind it of its duties an rela civil suit shooting death 130906 a sivanesan d obligations to the citizens of the country," said DAP state vice-chairman and party national labour bureau chief A Sivanesan ( right ).

"Why it is always members of the public or disgruntled political party members tipping off ROS on wrongdoings in societies before remedial action is taken?" he asked.

He said that it was the infighting among party leaders in PPP and IPF that led to disgruntled members tipping off the ROS. The ROS would then issue warning notices to keep their parties' records in order or face deregistration by the Registrar.

He was commenting on a Malaysiakini report yesterday that action could be taken by the ROS if political parties or societies contravene the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335) and Regulations.

A 60 year-old former employee of the Finance Ministry had complained to Malaysiakini that Indian-based political parties in the country have inflated their membership roles to impress BN, especially Umno, either for political mileage or financial gains.

The complainant wants ROS to take action against such political parties that are fooling the public.

Lacking political will

"ROS lacks the political will to take proactive action against such political parties that contravene the law although the laws are there to prevent such fraud," Sivanesan said.

"Instead of being subjected servants of their political masters, the ROS should instead stand truly independent in taking proactive action against any political party that steps out of line," advised Sivanesan who is also a lawyer by profession.

He reasoned that the total membership claimed by Indian-based political parties seems to be more than the Indian population in the country because of overlapping of members' names. Some were registered in two or more parties, with or without the knowledge of the members.

"Another factor for the disparity of Indian membership compared to the community's population in the country is the tendency of such parties to inflate their membership records to either boost the image of the party or for political mileage in advancing their political ranking with Umno BN," he alleged.

He argued that the overinflated membership problem is not only confined to Indian-based parties but is also faced by MCA.

He urged ROS to fine-tune all the membership records of all political parties in the country including Umno and give the correct and realistic picture of memberships in the different parties.

He said that it was mind-boggling to read news reports of fantastic claims made by upcoming parties to boost their political image in the eyes of the public and their political masters of Umno BN.

Wild claims made

The public and voters cannot be fooled by such wild claims and will only tarnish the image of such political parties.

"Has MIC's membership claim to 600,000 members been updated after numerous party branches that had rebelled against party president Samy Vellu had been closed over the years, and the expelled members have gone to other political parties?" he asked.

"The Indian Progressive Front (IPF), which claims to have 300,000 members, has now split three ways. And what is the latest situation of its membership with many jumping to other parties?" was another poser by him.

IPF is now facing the possibility of deregistration by ROS because the party records were not in order in accordance with the Societies Act.

m kayveas ppp pc 160307 talking PPP faces the same problem, but party leader M Kayveas ( left ) brushes off the shortcomings in the party administration as mere technicalities.

He said former PPP youth leader Murugiah's claim takes the cake. Murugiah was earlier sacked by Kayveas.

"It is illogical for a sacked member like him to recruit such a huge membership within a short period without having the official serial membership forms which Kayveas claimed he controls," Sivanesan pointed out.

"Besides, Murugiah went on to make public announcements on the change of party uniforms and other changes for his party without getting clearance from ROS which violates the Societies Act, " he further alleged.

Another tall-claim recruitment drive by the newly registered Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) is another shocker for the state vice-chairman.

"Initially they announced a membership of 10,000 which swelled to 50,000 and now suddenly it's 100,000 members within a short period of time and the figure is expected to go to 200,000 in two years time," said a shocked Sivanesan.

"It is all a political game to impress Umno BN and gain favour in the political arena and hoodwink the public on its membership strength," he alleged.

All these political parties are falling into the trap of the divide and rule policy of Umno and the end-loser is the Indian community, he concluded.

Sivanesan wants ROS to take stern action without fear or favour against any political party that contravenes the Societies Act.