Keadilan and PRM are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) next month to push for the merger of the two parties, an effort that has stalled for a year.

Keadilan secretary-general Sahri Bahri said the party's political bureau agreed last night that the MOU will be signed by early July by the presidents and secretary-generals of both parties.

He said the MOU will detail merger issues like the party's new name, logo, organisational structure, leadership positions and integration between branches and divisions of the two parties.

"There is also a commitment to push for the amendments of the party's constitution (which did not obtain a two-third majority at the last AGM of Keadilan) to include provisions for the merger," Sahri told malaysiakini .

The proposed merger between the two parties was delayed because of opposition within Keadilan. At its July meeting last year, it failed to obtain a two-third majority on the resolution which called for the amendments to the party's constitution.

The amendments included change of the party's name from Parti Keadilan Nasional to Parti Keadilan Rakyat Nasional and for the colour of their flag to be maintained — two red stripes were supposed to be added to the borders of Keadilan's blue flag, symbolising PRM's presence in the party.

However, the PRM congress last year agreed to the merger and all the amendments to Keadilan's constitution. Delegates also voted overwhelmingly to allow party leaders to complete the merger process.

Lobby for support

Meanwhile, Sahri said that once the PRM congress agreed to the MOU, the signed memorandum will be used to lobby support for the merger in Keadilan's divisions.

Once several divisions have agreed to the MOU, a motion to support the merger will be proposed during the Keadilan AGM in October, he added.

According to Sahri, 32 new divisions have been registered since early this year, bringing the total number of divisions to 152.

He added that 41 new divisions are pending registration and the leaders are working hard to achieve the target of 193 divisions, to commensurate with the total number of parliamentary constituencies in the country.

Sahri, however, declined to elaborate on the content of the MOU beyond saying that it is now up to PRM to endorse the document.

When contacted, PRM Youth committee member Latheefa Koya who is one of the representatives in the joint committee for the merger, said the party has yet to endorse the MOU.

Latheefa said PRM's central committee will meet on June 23 to discuss the matter.