The failure of Keadilan's supreme council at the party's special Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday to secure a two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments will delay the party's merger with PRM, the latter's president, Dr Syed Husin Ali said today.

Nonetheless, he agreed with Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's comment that the issue was merely a 'technical' matter and did not constitute a serious problem.

"The delegates' decisions on the first two resolutions supercede the third one," he told malaysiakini when contacted.

At the special AGM in Kelana Jaya, a total of 172 delegates, or 63.7 percent, voted in support of the merger, with 98 delegates opposing.

They also agreed by 169 to 100 votes, or 62.6 percent, to give the Keadilan's supreme council the 'mandate to implement all necessary steps in ensuring the success of the merger'.

Logo dispute

However, on the third resolution to 'accept and agree to constitutional changes that will arise from the merger', which requires a two-thirds majority decision, only 168 delegates, or 62.2 percent, approved the motion, with 101 delegates opposing in the secret ballot held.

Party insiders say the failure to secure a two-thirds majority for this resolution was due to delegates' reluctance to change the name of the party from Parti Keadilan Nasional to Parti Keadilan Rakyat Nasional (PKRN).

Delegates were also unwilling to amend Keadilan's turquoise blue-based logo to incorporate PRM's red on its left and right borders, they said

Syed Husin said that any decision regarding amendments to the Keadilan constitution would have to get the blessings of the delegates from both parties.

"We believe that Keadilan will be able to overcome this matter at its upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for within the next few months," he said.

The Keadilan AGM this November will see new delegates being elected. It is learnt that observers may also be given a chance to vote.

Historic, significant

Syed Husin also said he welcomed the decision by Keadilan delegates to merge with the party.

"I gladly welcome this wise decision. The decision is historic and very significant for the opening a new phase that can change the nature of Malaysian politics in the future," he said.

On July 15, PRM will be holding its 34th National Congress. Discussions on the formation of PKRN will be on its main agenda.

Syed Husin said the coming congress will reaffirm PRM's decision made last year, which agreed in principle with the merger.

He added that the congress will also discuss all decisions agreed to by the negotiating committees of both parties.

Talks of the merger between the two Malay-based opposition parties were floated mid-last year and the idea was believed to have been mooted by jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, husband of Keadilan president Wan Azizah.

The proposed merger, however, has caused a split within both parties, with some members fearing that it could erase the identity and 'glorious' past of their respective parties.