The Home Ministry today warned the newly-merged Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) that the government would act if the party begins functioning without approval from the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

Leaders of Parti Rakyat Malaysia and Keadilan had launched the new opposition political party on Aug 3, after complaining that the ROS has been delaying registration of the merged entity.

"Based on our initial investigations, the party has not started functioning as Parti Keadilan Rakyat," Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told the Dewan Rakyat today.

"The government will not hesitate to take appropriate action if we have concrete evidence that it is functioning as a political party."

'Obey laws'

He said the government respects the right of association as provided for under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, but that groups are also required to comply with laws and regulations.

"The government has no intention to come down hard on any association which abides by the Federal Constitution and the country's laws," Zainal Abidin said.

He was responding to a question from Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) during the question-and-answer session as to whether the government would act against the party if its activities proceed without ROS approval.

The entity was launched after a two-year merger process which involved obtaining a mandate from members of both parties and amending each constitution accordingly.

It is now helmed by a transitional 62-member supreme council even though is has yet to obtain ROS approval of its merger application.

At a dialogue with Keadilan leaders two months ago, ROS officials had told the party that the delay in approval was because the agency had not received the nod from a "government agency".

Detailed checks required

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby later, Zainal Abidin said the delay in approval was to enable the ROS to carry out detailed research and to avoid making any "mistake in approving the new party".

As to elaborate on the type of research being conducted, he said it included the leadership line-up, constitution, the party's purpose, background and activities.

"We also need to study the background and record of each leader - such as whether they have committed any criminal offences inside or outside the country. So this is all a very complicated and time-consuming process," he said.

"We must exercise due caution in making the decision so we do not want to make mistakes in our assessment."

Asked which "government agency" was intervening in the approval process, he said he was unaware of the claim.

"ROS is under the Home Ministry, I never heard about that (claim)... it is not true to say the government is intervening and that this has resulted in the delay. The government is only an observer," he said.

"I must stress that the delay was not intentional and does not involve other motives."

On the possibility that the new party may nominate candidates to contest in the coming general election, Zainal Abidin said such nominations would not be accepted if the party has yet to be approved.

However he was quick to add that any decision to accept the party's candidates would fall under the Election Commission's jurisdiction and that the "Home Ministry cannot question it".