news flash

Delegates from Keadilan are currently debating the merits of a landmark merger with PRM and will be voting later this afternoon on three resolutions put forward by the party's supreme council at its special annual general meeting.

The meeting, attended by 309 party delegates from 97 divisions nationwide, will decide in a secret ballot on three key resolutions:

1) To accept and agree to the merger between Keadilan and PRM.

2) To accept and agree to constitutional changes that will arise from the merger.

3) To give the Keadilan supreme council the mandate to implement all necessary steps in ensuring the success of the merger.

Should the delegates back the resolutions, they will subsequently debate a 17-point 'manifesto' that was approved by the merger coordinating committee made up of representatives from both parties on June 6.

The proposals include a name change for Parti Keadilan Nasional to Parti Keadilan Rakyat Malaysia (PKRM). The PKRM's new logo will retain Keadilan's present logo but incorporate two red borders on the left and right.

To pave the way for the merger, PRM will have to dissolve itself.

The 17-point 'manifesto' for the new PKRM party, among others, includes the struggle for a just and democratic country, upholding the constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, championing for an independent media and judiciary and freedom of speech, assembly and association, the recognition that Islam is the official religion while respecting the freedom of worship of other religions and that Bahasa Melayu is the official language of the country while respecting the mother tongues of other minority groups.

The vote on the merger is expected to take place after lunch and a press conference is to be held at 5pm today.

[Full report to follow]