After waiting three months for a response to their registration application, the People’s Alternative Party (PaP) is mulling taking stronger action.

 

In a press conference today, its pro-tem president Zulkifli Mohd Noor said they have not heard at all from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) since submitting the forms in September.

 

The pro-tem committee members have done all they can to meet with the ROS, Home Ministry officials, and even the Prime Minister's Department to get feedback.

 

"Till today we have not even got a letter of reply to our application from the ROS.

 

“Following this, PaP does not discount the next course of action, including protest or even filing a court action, if there is no feedback," he said.

 

Zulkifli ( right ), a former national DAP vice-chairperson, said whatever course of action the party would take next would be based on the country's law and the Federal Constitution.

 

He said that he had to resort to calling for a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today to let its members know the latest development on registering the new party.

 

The party leaders, Zulkifli said, have received many calls asking why the party has not been registered.

He added that the party structure at the state level is dependent on their ROS registration.

 

“We have moved since last year by setting up committees at the state level, but until and unless there is a decision by the ROS, we cannot set up divisions or branches,” he said.

Not a third force

 

Zulkifli said the party is not aligned to BN or Pakatan Rakyat, and does not see itself as ‘the third force’, but provides an alternative for the people to choose.

 

“We will contest all 222 parliamentary and more than 500 state seats nationwide. As to where we will be heading will depend on the party's performance in the 14 th general election.

 

“If Pakatan or BN does not have any majority, the party (PaP) will then decide after the 14 th general election who to align itself to,” he said.

 

PaP wants to attract young people to join the ranks and urged for their parents to support the youths to become leaders, and they have set the age limit for membership at 18.

 

Zulkifli said he does not aspire to be a prime minister or a menteri besar.

 

What he aims to do is prepare a platform for the younger generation – those who do not support BN or Pakatan – to get an early start in politics.

 

Claiming to be a multi-racial party, the pro-tem president said race-based politics does not work in Malaysia.

 

“That is why we are working to be a multi-racial party where the composition of our leaders would be based on the national population.

"If Malays account for 60 percent, then 60 percent of the party's central leadership will be Malays and if Chinese account for 30 percent, then 30 percent of the party leadership will be Chinese,” he said.

 

“PaP is also not recruiting billionaires or millionaires as we do not want them to use their wealth to gain posts in the party. We want ordinary Malaysians,” said Zulkifli who was with the DAP prior to forming the PaP.

 

Also with Zulkifli at the press conference were its pro-tem secretary-general David Dasset and pro-tem secretary Rahmad Ishak.