Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) vice-president Abdul Rahman Othman said that they have submitted an appeal today to the Registrar of Societies (ROS), who had requested the newly merged opposition party to change its acronym.

The party is adamant to keep the name 'Keadilan' (justice) as its acronym, not 'PKR' as some have suggested.

"We are convinced that the acronym 'Keadilan' has not breached any rules set by the ROS. Further, the word will not be prejudicial to any one party. In fact, we believe that the acronym is the best one to portray our image as a party which seeks justice for everyone," he said in a press statement today.

Abdul Rahman said that it was difficult for the party to accept ROS' explanation that the acronym was unsuitable because it had been used by Parti Keadilan Nasional ever since it was first registered in 1999.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat was launched on Aug 3 after the completion of a painful two-year merger process between two opposition parties - Parti Keadilan Nasional and the Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM).

Acronym used by old party

On Monday, ROS faxed a letter to Keadilan's head office in Shah Alam stating that the political party's application to amend its constitution - which in turn will make way for the formation of the merged entity - was rejected.

The powerful ROS said that the acronym had been used by the old party and was therefore inappropriate for the newly merged entity to use the same name.

The new party is now led by a 62-member transitional supreme council members headed by Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as president with Dr Syed Husin Ali as deputy president.

In the letter of appeal, Abdul Rahman said Keadilan has presented five reasons to justify maintaining the name.

"(We have the right keep the name because) our application to amend Keadilan's constitution is a normal process and does not involve a formation of a new entity as it does not change its nature and formation.

"(Instead) our application merely seeks the changes of name, flag, logo, the addition of party posts and some administration policies."

It explained that the proposed amendment does not involve the formation of a new pro-tem committee, which is needed to establish a new party.

"The decision to amend Keadilan's constitution was obtained with the required two-thirds majority as provided in Article 34.1 of its constitution."

Yesterday, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor alleged that ROS' rejection of the acronym was a political move and "a clear double standard".

Should the ROS refuse to recognise the new party, both the opposition parties will be forced to campaign under their old names in the next general election.